Karnataka Forest Dept develops own radio collar to mitigate human-elephant conflict
Bengaluru, Feb 5 (PTI): Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday launched K P Tracker-- an indigenous GSM-based elephant radio collar--developed by the Forest Department in collaboration with Infiction Labs Pvt Ltd for monitoring elephants to effectively mitigate human-elephant conflicts.
These newly launched Karnataka Researched Trackers (or Karnataka Produced Trackers) are cost-effective radio collars that are readily available for immediate deployment. They have been made using locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials to ensure a reduced ecological impact, officials said.
Citing incidents of elephants roaming around Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan, the minister said that locals will now be informed about elephant movements through the use of indigenously made radio collars fitted to female elephants, which usually lead the herd. This initiative is expected to help curb the elephant menace.
These radio collars have now been handed over to the officials of Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger Reserves.
According to Khandre, with 6,395 elephants, Karnataka has the highest elephant population in the country. However, since forest cover is not expanding in proportion to the growing elephant population, human-elephant conflicts are on the rise.
He stated that the government is working to provide timely information to locals by installing radio collars on elephants, thereby protecting both human and elephant lives.
"Until now, these radio collars were imported from Africa Wildlife Tracking (AWT), a South Africa-based organization, and Vectronic, a Germany-based organization. These collars were not readily available, and each one cost Rs 6.5 lakh. But now, a domestically developed radio collar costs just Rs 1.80 lakh," he said.
Khandre further noted that this initiative will increase the availability of radio collars, reduce foreign dependence and high costs, and save foreign exchange.
Additionally, the weight of imported radio collars used to be 16-17 kg, whereas the domestically developed collars now weigh only 7 kg, making them significantly lighter, he said.
"The Forest Department has designed this radio collar to meet its specific requirements, using eco-friendly raw materials that do not pose a risk to wildlife or the environment. If a defect is found, these collars can be repaired, and their battery, bulb, or circuit can be replaced. This flexibility was not available with imported radio collars," he said.
Highlighting the security risks associated with imported collars, Khandre said, "There was a risk of sensitive forest and wildlife data being leaked through the radio collars imported from abroad. Now that we have developed this technology domestically, there is no such risk. The data will also be securely stored on local servers."
He also mentioned that the department is working on developing similar collars for tigers and leopards.
"In the first phase, only the elephant radio collar is ready. The development of tiger and leopard collars is also in progress, and they will be launched soon," he said.
In a statement, the Forest Department said that K P Trackers have been designed to meet the specific needs of local wildlife, forest officials, and frontline staff.
"The Karnataka Forest Department, with active initiation from Kumar Pushkar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), and continuous efforts from technology expert Gurudeepa of Infiction Labs Pvt Ltd, has developed an indigenous GSM-based elephant radio collar for monitoring elephants in conflict areas," the statement read.
The indigenous collars feature advanced data security measures, with all collected data stored securely on local servers, it stated.
"This ensures that sensitive information remains protected while empowering local communities to maintain control over wildlife management data. The localised server deployment also reduces costs associated with data transfer and storage," it added.
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Dube, Chakravarthy star as India end league stage with 17-run win over Netherlands
Ahmedabad (PTI): Shivam Dube played a momentum changing knock before Varun Chakravarthy produced another incisive spell to set up India's convincing 17-run victory over the Netherlands in their final league fixture of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.
Despite the top-order struggles against off-spinner Aryan Dutt, India managed to make a challenging 193 for six courtesy the fireworks from Shivam Dube (66 off 31) in the second half of the innings.
The Netherlands were always behind in the chase and doors on them were shut by Chakravarthy (3/14 in 3 overs), who did the damage in the powerplay as well as in the middle overs.
Staying true to his strength, the mystery spinner relentlessly attacked the stumps, removing Colin Ackermann and Aryan Dutt in successive balls in the 13th over to leave the Netherlands at 94 for four.
Soon after, a well set Bas de Leede and captain Scott Edwards were dismissed, snuffing out all hopes for the associate nation who ended their campaign with three losses and a solitary win.
Zach Lion-Cachet (26 not out off 16) and Noah Croes (25 not out off 12) made things more interesting in the death overs but were left with too much to do despite collecting 18 runs from Hardik Pandya in the 19th over.
Expecting tougher battles ahead, Suryakumar Yadav chose to give the final over to Shivam Dube over Jasprit Bumrah. Despite two dropped catches, Dube was able to defend 28 off the last six balls as the Netherlands ended at 176/7 in 20 overs.
Overwhelming title favourites India now head into their opening Super 8 game against South Africa here as the only unbeaten team from Group A. However, they still have work to do against the spinners.
Opting to bat, India were hoping for Abhishek Sharma's return to form ahead of the Super 8, but the left-hander had to endure his third consecutive duck in the tournament. In the form of his life not so long ago, he is yet to score a run in his maiden ICC event.
It was the off-spin of Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus, Usman Qadir and Saim Ayub that had troubled the Indians in the previous league games. On Wednesday, it was the turn of Indian-origin offie Dutt to shine against a star studded home team at the world's largest cricket stadium.
On the eve of the match day, the Indian batters focussed on their game against the spinners in the nets but going forward, they still have work to do.
While Dutt was the standout bowler, the variations used by the Netherlands pacers also tested the Indians.
Dutt, who is used to opening the bowling, was employed for three overs in the powerplay to counter the left-handed trio of Abhishek, Ishan Kishan (18 off 7) and Tilak Varma (31 off 27).
Having played two dot balls in the opening over, Abhishek went for the pull off a faster ball from Dutt only to see his stumps disturbed.
The in-form Kishan was quick to get off the blocks before falling to Dutt in a bizarre fashion. Trying to dispatch Dutt on the leg-side, Kishan played on to his stumps with the ball ricocheting from his thigh and elbow.
Tilak, who started with a crisp straight six off pacer Logan van Beek, fell to the same bowler in the ninth over with 41-year-old Roelof van der Merwe taking a stunner at long-off.
India would have been four down inside 10 overs had Michael Levitt not dropped a sitter off van Beek when Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 27) was on 13.
Having stuttered to
74/3 in 10 overs, Dube gave the innings the much-needed steam with half a dozen sixes, most of them in the cow corner region. He too was tested by Dutt initially before clearing his front leg to get a free flow of the arms to clear the ropes at will.
Dube shared a 76-run stand with Hardik (30 off 21) to provide the push in the last five overs that yielded 75 runs.
