The Hon’ble Vice President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan, recently unveiled a drone developed by Garuda Aerospace specifically for Drone-Aided Elephant Darting, highlighting a milestone in the application of “Made in India” drone technology for wildlife conservation and managing human-elephant conflict. The unveiling ceremony was attended by the Hon’ble Governor of Kerala, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, and the Hon’ble Union Minister, Suresh Gopi.
This purpose-built drone aids in aerial-assisted elephant darting, enhancing precision while reducing risks to forest personnel and minimizing disruption to elephants during critical operations.
Originally developed nearly a decade ago for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the drone has undergone continuous refinements over the years. The latest version represents the culmination of ongoing innovation, tailored to meet the evolving needs of forest authorities.
Garuda Aerospace has previously provided several drones to prominent conservation organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and several Forest Departments across India.
On this occasion, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, the Founder & Director at Garuda Aerospace, said, “Ten years ago, the first drone we designed was for the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. As the Hon’ble Vice President launched this upgraded, customized version of a drone for drone-assisted elephant darting, we find it extremely fulfilling. We have been a company that believes in incremental innovation, enhancing our capabilities to serve the cause of wildlife conservation responsibly. We remain committed to developing indigenous solutions to protect wildlife as well as the community.”
In the face of increasing human-elephant conflicts, the Indian government continues to seek solutions to this problem. Drone-assisted elephant darting provides a more effective, efficient, and humane solution to this problem. It is a testament to Garuda Aerospace’s dedication to using drones for a cause, to serve the nation, to serve the community, and to serve the greater good across industries like wildlife conservation, disaster management, agri-industries, and the military.
