Study Reveals Misuse of Wildlife Monitoring Tech to Intimidate and Spy on Women in Corbett

In the Corbett Tiger Reserve, devices like camera traps, drones, and sound recorders have proven effective in safeguarding wildlife. However, researchers from Cambridge University have discovered that these tools are also being misused by local officials and villagers to spy on women who visit the forest for gathering resources or seeking a break. These women, primarily from nearby villages in Uttarakhand, are being monitored without their consent, according to the researchers.

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Why women venture deep into Corbett

Women from villages in and around the Tiger Reserve rely on the forest for firewood, medicinal herbs, and as a space to connect through songs and conversations. Frequently subjected to physical abuse by their alcoholic husbands, they view the forest as a refuge away from their oppressive home environments. In the forest, free from male dominance, the women would gather in groups, chatting and often breaking into song. However, the presence of cameras has made them more reserved and self-aware. This silence, according to the report, is not just a social shift but could also expose them to greater risk of wild animal attacks.

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How camera traps , voice recorders have sent women silent

The findings reveal how technology meant for conservation of animals could be misused to invade privacy and end up altering social behaviour, say experts. “These findings have caused quite a stir amongst the conservation community. It’s very common for projects to use these technologies to monitor wildlife, but this highlights that we really need to be sure they’re not causing unintended harm,” said Professor Chris Sandbrook, Director of the University of Cambridge’s Masters in Conservation Leadership programme, who was also a part of the report.

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