The Japanese prefecture of Gifu has begun using a drone, dubbed by its developers the "hunting drone," to deter bears. The drone emits a loud dog barking sound while flying over an orchard that has recently seen frequent appearances of these wild animals. At a certain point, it can launch firecrackers to scare the bears away from the area.
This new, strangely-looking device is a sophisticated technical solution recently adopted by the local government of Gifu Prefecture to prevent bears from eating apples and peaches in the "Fruits Park Korochi" orchard.
According to Naofumi Yoshikawa, an official from the prefecture's Environmental Affairs Bureau overseeing the experiment, the drone allows for an immediate response to the sharp increase in bear sightings in the region. This autumn, their numbers have increased by about eight times compared to last year.
In turn, the chairman of the local agricultural cooperative, Masahiko Amaki, said: "While the drone's sound was in the air, the fear of bears remained." A warning sign about bears was placed at the beginning of a walking path near the farm, urging hikers not to walk alone.
