New Delhi: Sweden has started a unique project to reduce litter on its streets. Instead of depending only on people, the country is training crows to collect cigarette butts and other small pieces of trash.
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The project is being tested by the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation. It is called "Corvid Cleaning." Crows were chosen because they are very smart birds. They can quickly learn new tasks and remember them for a long time.
A special machine has been made for this project. The machine can tell the difference between litter and natural things like leaves. When a crow drops a cigarette butt into the machine, it gets a small food reward. The birds are not forced to work. Project founder Christian Günther-Hanssen said the crows take part voluntarily because they receive food in return.
Cigarette butts are one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution in the world. Around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown away and left as litter across the globe. They take years to break down and can pollute soil and water.
Every year, Sweden spends around 20 million Swedish krona (about 2.2 million US dollars) to clean its streets. According to Günther-Hanssen, if the crow project is successful, it could reduce these cleaning costs by 75% or even more.
The project could help the city save around £1.6 million every year while also keeping streets cleaner. If the pilot project gives good results, other cities around the world may also try using trained crows to help fight litter and protect the environment.
This unusual idea shows that nature and technology can work together. With the help of these intelligent birds, cities may find a cheaper and more eco-friendly way to keep public places clean.
