AI camera to check man-animal conflict

• Tech aided camera produces 20 types of shrill, harsh sounds of animals, flies
• Successfully experimented at Nagarahole Forest area to stop elephants from straying out of the wild

Hunsur: Artificial Intelligence (AI), that is fast pervading every other sector, has now added teeth to Forest Department’s fight to prevent man-animal conflict. The experiment of Forest Department by incorporating the new age technology has met with a success.

AI equipped camera was installed in the fringes of Nagarahole forest, where the wild elephants were regularly straying out towards agricultural fields, only to feast on the crops. The camera installed at the cost of Rs. 1.5 lakh, produces 20 types of shrill and harsh sounds like that of honeybees buzzing around, people screaming, bursting of fire crackers etc., hearing which, the pachyderms scare to pass through the camera surveillance.

ACF of Nagarahole Lakshmikanth told Star of Mysore, the AI camera is installed at a location named Farm Guard, where Elephant Proof Trench (EPT) cannot be built, fence cannot be installed, so also the chances of installing Railway Barricades and building Check Wall were sparse. It has been already three to four months since this camera is installed and there are no instances of elephants passing through this stretch.

Upon hearing the sound, the elephants run helter-skelter, as per the visuals caught on camera. The camera covers 150 metres radius of area and produces clear images, added ACF Lakshmikanth.

While the experiment was successfully undertaken, utilising the available funds in the department, it would be more beneficial, if the Government provides special grants to make use of the technology extensively. Additionally, the AI technology should be made affordable, so that effective measures can be taken in the prevention of man-animal conflict.

AI camera can scare any animals. The camera produces sound according to the image uploaded into it.  For now, the picture of elephant has been uploaded and camera produces the sound upon spotting the elephants. With this, we have succeeded in preventing elephants from raiding the villages. —ACF Lakshmikanth