Andhra Pradesh uses drone technology to track elusive leopards in Chittoor

Forest officials in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district have turned to aerial surveillance to track leopards that have been moving through the region, with unmanned drones now being used to monitor their movements across forests and farmland.

The decision to deploy drone technology comes as part of efforts to better understand leopard behaviour and movement patterns in the district. The animals have been spotted traversing their natural habitats while occasionally passing through cultivated fields, prompting the need for non-invasive monitoring methods.

According to the District Forest Officer, capturing the leopards is not technically feasible given that they are constantly on the move within their natural habitat. The aerial monitoring approach allows authorities to track the animals without physical intervention, reducing the risk to both wildlife and human populations in the region.

The use of drones for wildlife monitoring represents a growing trend across Indian forest departments seeking to balance conservation efforts with public safety. By maintaining surveillance of leopard movements, officials aim to prevent conflicts between the big cats and local communities while gathering valuable data on population dynamics and habitat usage patterns in Chittoor district.