Small drones emitting noises and red lights will be used in the Tanoura area of Oita to fend off monkeys who have been causing problems for local agriculture. Stuffed toy monkeys are suspended from the drones and flown over areas where monkeys have been spotted. The drones emit threatening monkey sounds which scare the monkeys on the ground. In Oita City last year, damage to agricultural crops caused by the Japanese macaque amounted to ¥2.2 million. Located close to Takasakiyama, Tanoura has had a particularly harsh experience with the cultivation of loquat, figs, and mandarin oranges badly hit. Various measures have already been tried, including setting traps and using bird handlers in an attempt to keep the problem at bay. The city plans to use drones about 20 times this year and will look to develop their functions and increase the number if the project proves effective. Source: OBS (Oita Broadcasting System), 5/30/2017
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