The Forest department continues its mission to chase wild tusker Padayappa back to forest from the residential areas in Munnar.
The department plans to purchase aircraft-model drone cameras to monitor the wild elephant’s movements. According to officials, the tusker has damaged several shops, blocked vehicles, and terrorised local residents in the past month. A team is closely monitoring the movements of the tusker with the help of drone cameras and is trying to chase it back to forest.
High Range Circle Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Arun R.S. said that a team from Mumbai was providing drone support to monitor the movements of the tusker. “The trial monitoring is progressing with two aircraft-model drones — one each of 5-km and 15-km ranges — with night vision. If it succeeds, the department will purchase drone cameras, which can be used to monitor the movements of Padayappa and other wild elephants in Munnar,” said the official.
