Swiss police training eagles to swoop on suspicious drones
SWISS police are attempting to train eagles to intercept armed drones, despite the failure of a similar project in Holland and mixed results in France.
The eagle has been an emblem of Geneva since the 15th century and the authorities are now hoping it will help to defend the city as concern grows that terrorists could deploy drones carrying explosives.
Silvain Guillaume-gentil, a Geneva police spokesman, told The Daily Telegraph: “We must be ready to act if drones become a threat.”
A pair of the birds are being schooled to swoop down on suspicious drones in mid-flight, snatch them with their claws and land them on the ground.
Their approach has attracted some cynicism. Jonathan Ames, a director of Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Kent, said: “I don’t know whether it’s just a publicity stunt, but it’s a ridiculous idea. It won’t work.
“Drones are far more manoeuvrable and faster and you’re risking getting the eagles injured if they get caught or cut by the drone’s rotors.”
Mr Guillaume-gentil admitted the training was “a lengthy, complicated and demanding process” with no guarantee of success. He said: “We are doing everything to keep the birds safe and make sure they don’t hurt themselves.”