Nepal to train rangers to handle drone aircraft to save rhinos

Two UAVs have been used for the first time in Nepal's conservation history in Chitawan National Park which is home to the endangered wildlife, according to Diwakar Chapagain, conservation coordinator of WWF Nepal.

A successful test of two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) called "Conservation Drones", was carried out on June 12, 2012 in Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal, according to Chapagain.

Now ten officials including assistant warden, rangers and Nepal Army personnel will be provided two weeks training probably within a couple of months in the new technology, WWF Nepal told PTI.

WWF Nepal successfully conducted the programmed aircraft for monitoring the movement of wildlife, the activities of poachers and other valuable information relating to wildlife conservation, he said.

This is the first such technology used in wildlife conservation in South Asia, he added.