Corbett Camera Traps and Drones Allegedly Misused to Invade Women’s Privacy, Says Report
Corbett Camera Traps and Drones Allegedly Misused to Invade Women's Privacy, Says Report
Camera traps, drones, and voice recorders used for wildlife conservation in Uttarakhand’s Corbett Tiger Reserve are being misused to monitor village women, according to a report by Cambridge University researchers. This has raised concerns over privacy, social behavior, and the safety of women.
The report, published in Environment and Planning F, highlights how these devices—intended to protect wildlife and reduce poaching—are being used by local officials and villagers to track women who enter the forest to gather firewood, and herbs, or escape domestic hardships.
Cambridge researcher Trishant Simlai interviewed 270 locals, including women, and found that drones have been flown to scare women out of forests, even when their activities are legal. In one instance, a camera trap recorded an autistic woman relieving herself. The footage was shared on social media, sparking outrage.
Some villagers, angered by the misuse, have burned the camera traps.
The forest is a refuge for these women, who often face domestic abuse. They also gather in the woods to share songs and conversations, finding solace away from male-dominated households. However, the constant surveillance has made them silent and wary, making them vulnerable to wildlife attacks. A woman interviewed was later killed by a tiger.
Experts warn that such monitoring could harm women’s mental health and highlight the unintended consequences of conservation technology.
Despite these concerns, the devices have been effective in reducing tiger poaching. Corbett Tiger Reserve, located 280 km from Delhi, is a popular tourist destination offering jeep safaris from November to June. Attempts to get comments from Corbett officials remain unanswered.
