Watch Dutch Police train eagles to take down drones

Sensing that drones can become a problem, the Dutch Police are training eagles to take down illegally operating drones.

Dutch Police released a video showing eagles taking out drones/ Screenshot

Drones are now a technology that’s massively being used for various reasons, even pizza delivery. But as we’re all aware, the technology can be misuse as well. Different countries have rules for its usage, for instance, in India flying a drone is actually banned without prior permission since October 2014 but no one is really aware.

Sensing that drones can become a problem, the Dutch Police are training eagles to take down illegally operating drones. In the video, the eagle targets the drone, catches it out of the sky, takes it to a safe landing space and bites into it.

Watch video:

The police have partnered with Guard From Above, a raptor training company based in The Hague which claims to be “the world’s first company specialized in training birds of prey to intercept hostile drones”. The police spokesperson told Dutch News.nl that it’s it’s testing phase but the use of birds to destroy drones is a ‘very real possibility’.

“For years, the government has been looking for ways to counter the undesirable use of drones. Sometimes, a low-tech solution for a high-tech problem is more obvious than it seems. This is the case with our specially trained birds of prey. By using these birds’ animal instincts, we can offer an effective solution to a new threat.” GFA’s founder and CEO, Sjoerd Hoogendoorn, was quoted as saying in the Washington Post.

And eagles particularly are competent and have the quality to hunt their prey. However, it’s still a concern if its safe for the bird. Guard From Above has responded to the query in their FAQs saying that birds of prey often overpower large and dangerous prey. Their talons have scales, which protect them, naturally, from their victims’ bites. “We are continuously investigating any extra possible protective measures we can take in order to protect our birds.”

It will take a few months before the tests end and the police decide whether or not to use the birds for this purpose.