GREEN MINUTE NEWS:
Karnataka launches indigenously developed radio collars to tackle the rising human-elephant conflicts in the state.
Called as Karnataka-Patented Tracking Device (KP Tracker), they are cheaper than imported ones, easily repairable, maintainable, eco-friendly, and not posing a security risk.
Presently, Karnataka has the highest elephant population of 6395 in India. However, due to limited expansion of forest habitat and fragmentation, human-elephant conflicts have increased.
To address the human-elephant conflict issue in the state, the Karnataka Forest Department has been installing radio collars to monitor elephants and alert local communities living on the fringes of sanctuaries, national parks and reserve forests.
This project started many years ago when raiding elephants were tracked using imported radio collars and the inhabitants were warned of approaching pachyderms in their area. The project was taken up in Hassan and Kodagu to track the movement of elephant incursions into human settlements – so hundreds of elephants were tagged or radio collared but it was a costly affair.
COST REDUCTION & AVOIDING IMPORTS
Previously, these radio collars were imported from African Wildlife Tracking (South Africa) and Vectronic (Germany). The imported collars were expensive Rs 6.5 lakh per collar and often faced delays. However, the new indigenous collars cost only Rs 1.8 lakh/collar, reducing costs and dependence on foreign technology while saving foreign exchange.
Apart from this, the imported radio collars weighed 16-17 kg, while the new Indian-made radio collar weighs only 7 kg, making them lighter and more comfortable for the elephants.
ECO-FRIENDLY & EASILY REPAIRABLE
Designed with eco-friendly materials, these radio collars are safe for wildlife and the environment. Unlike imported versions, which couldn’t be repaired, the indigenous collars allow for battery, bulb, and circuit replacements if necessary.
Further, the imported radio collars posed a security risk as they could potentially leak sensitive data about forests and wildlife. The new indigenously made radio collars store all data securely on local servers, eliminating any such risks.
FREQUENT ELEPHANT MOVEMENTS
According to Karnataka’s Minister for Forests, Ecology, and Environment, Eshwar Khandre, the movement of elephants is frequent across the districts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan, which are often led by matriarchs. To track their movements and inform local people, the task of developing indigenous radio collars were taken up which will be installed on elephants across the state.
Forest Minister Khandre inaugurated the cost-effective a radio collar developed by the Karnataka Forest Department in collaboration with Bengaluru-based Infikshan Labs Private Limited. These collars were handed over to forest officials from the Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger Reserves during the event.
TRACKING COLLARS FOR BIG CATS TOO
Kumar Pushkar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), along with technical expert Gurudeep from Infikshan Labs, has developed these GSM-based elephant radio collars. The device has been named as the Karnataka-Patented Tracker (KP Tracker) or Karnataka-Produced Tracker.
Initially, only elephant radio collars have been developed, but work is underway to create “tracking collars” for tigers and leopards, which will be launched soon.
(PHOTO CREDIT: KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT & RUTWIK SATISH)