Dutch Police Demonstrate How They Use Trained Eagles to Knock Illegal Drones Out of the Sky

The Netherlands Police demonstrate the effectiveness of a new program that employs eagles and other birds-of-prey to safely take down drones that are flying illegally or act as a threat to the public. The program started with one bird and proved so successful that more birds were purchased from the United States. This is the first such program in the world.

(translated)The Dutch police corps is the first in the world to bet on raptors.The eagles are trained to see a drone as prey. Naturally Raptor is inclined to take her prey to a safe place. The birds are now taught to take the prey (drone) to a place designated by the police. This is to prevent the drone not arbitrarily end up in the crowd. The Raptors are stationed at several places in the country so that they can be deployed quickly. The bird’s claws are scaly and thus protected against bites from their prey. The propellers of the drone indicate no damage to the jaws. TNO is currently working to develop a special “claw protector ‘for the larger type drones. Chicks, with a wingspan of at least one meter, are currently being trained. The police expect them to put in approximately a half-year. A number of agents who have an affinity with animals are trained as bird guide.

via IEEE Spectrum