Thermal drone captures wild elephants in Wokha, marking Nagaland’s first such imagery and helping track elephant movement safely
DIMAPUR — A thermal drone has helped Forest department locate a herd of 8–10 wild elephants moving through forest near Seluku village in Wokha district, in what the department described as the first thermal drone imagery of wild elephants recorded in Nagaland.
According to an official press release, the herd was detected on the night of October 5 after the Forest department received information about elephants near agricultural fields in the area.
A team of Forest officials first inspected the forest and edges of the fields on foot before flying a thermal drone over the forest canopy. The elephants’ body heat showed up despite the dense vegetation and darkness, allowing the team to locate the herd.
The size of the herd is an estimate based on the thermal scan and observations made on the ground, the department stated.
Forest officials subsequently informed the Seluku village authorities and the Koio Village Council about the presence of the elephants, urging residents to exercise caution, particularly while accessing agricultural fields.
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The department said thermal imaging could help locate elephants at night and in poor visibility, allowing communities to be alerted earlier and helping officials identify areas where human-elephant encounters could occur.
The drone was flown at a safe height to avoid disturbing the animals, it added.
The department is also training frontline staff in drone operations so that thermal monitoring can be extended to other areas where human-elephant conflict is reported.
Residents have been advised not to approach, chase or provoke elephants and to avoid travelling alone in fields at dusk or at night when elephants are reported nearby.
The department has asked residents to report elephant sightings to the Wildlife Control Room at 1800-2020-878 or the nearest forest office.