The Dutch police trained eagles to catch illegal drones, but the unusual experiment was later abandoned

As drones became cheaper and more widely available, they also created new challenges for law enforcement.

Unauthorised drones began appearing near airports, public events and restricted government facilities, raising concerns about safety and security.

While technologies such as signal jammers and net-launching systems were still evolving, the Dutch National Police explored an unconventional solution inspired by nature.

In 2016, officers partnered with a specialist wildlife company to train birds of prey to intercept rogue drones mid-air.

The project attracted global attention, demonstrating how an animal's natural hunting instincts could be adapted to address a modern technological problem.