AFTER successful implementation of ‘AI virtual Wall’ in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve ( TATR) at Chandrapur, the Artificial Intelligence (AI)- based wildlife monitoring system has now become functional in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) of Nagpur district. PTR, in its commitment to reducing human-wildlife conflict and ensure safety of its people in buffer area from wildlife, has established a wildlife management system along with a portal commonly known as ‘Virtual Wall’ in its buffer areas. The virtual wall is a chain of smart inter-linked AI cameras with internet access. The cameras are strategically located on the boundaries of villages near forests. These cameras are capable of transmitting images through an Internet ofThings (IoT) platform to a cloud server, where processing is done using AI mechanism. The machine learning algorithms are used to identify tigers by comparing the obtained image with a database. In case of human-tiger conflicts, the images can be used to track tiger movements.

 

These cameras, with their animal detection algorithm, detect any movement of wildlife, especially carnivores, from forest to villages and send real time updates to forest officials and field staff. The platform is also capable of identifying unique tigers. Similarly, the platform can identify and capture human activity within the restricted hour, and can identify humans with guns, etc. Further, it can identify the density of herbivores in a specific area. It is capable to find a particular tiger from the database and track its last sighting and its nearby tigers. Alerts in the form of emails and messages are generated for forest officials in the event of tiger sightings.

 

“The system is designed to use the internet speed optimally, so that it can transfer data in low network areas too. Besides, it can capture the image during low light period also during which most of the animal movement happens,” Dr Prabhu Nath Shukla, Deputy Director, PTR told The Hitavada. “We have installed six such AI virtual walls in Paoni range of PTR and more such equipment will be installed soon. One AI wall can cover a distance of one kilometre in all direction and soon after installing more such cameras we can extend the range to monitor more areas,” said Dr Shukla. System uses sustainable energy solution using solar panels for harnessing solar power.With the utilisation of 200 Ah batteries, LED lights and cameras, can be operated continuously without conventional electricity sources. PTR have specially modified these cameras in portable mode so that they are movable and can be used in areas which have more incidences of human- animal conflict. So, it will reduce the cost as it will not require to place chain of cameras permanently. The virtual wall system is aimed at mitigating humantiger conflict by creating a real-time monitoring system that can detect tiger and other carnivore movements and provide an early warning to the forest officials, thereby reducing the risk of attacks on humans and cattle, said Dr Shukla.