The French Air Force is training golden eagles to intercept drones mid-flight if they pose a security risk.

The training starts before the birds have even hatched, with their eggs being placed on drones to prepare them and young chicks feeding from them.

The eagles are conditioned to regard drones as prey and are rewarded with pieces of meat if they successfully bring one of the battery-charged units down from the sky.

Image: The eagles are taught to bring down remote-controlled drones

Security fears around drones have intensified in France in recent times after they were seen hovering above a sensitive military site in Brittany, as well as the presidential palace in Paris.

As a result, legislation restricting the usage of drones in urban areas of France has been brought in.


Dutch police have also trained eagles in the technique for catching drones.