Ranchi, March 2: The Jharkhand Forest Department will introduce AI-powered thermal cameras in Jamshedpur to monitor elephant movement and reduce man–elephant conflict, officials said on Monday.
The advanced surveillance system will be installed in vulnerable stretches of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and in the Chandil and Chakulia ranges under the Jamshedpur Forest Division, areas that frequently witness elephant intrusions into human settlements.
Officials said 27 AI-powered thermal cameras will be installed in the first phase of the project. Each camera can rotate 360 degrees and monitor movement within a six-kilometre radius, enabling round-the-clock tracking of elephants.
Explaining the system, Jamshedpur Divisional Forest Officer Saba Alam Ansari said the AI software would analyse captured images and send real-time alerts to a control room.
“The AI software will analyse the captured data and send real-time alerts to the control room. Upon receiving the alert, forest personnel will inform the Quick Response Team (QRT), which will rush to the location, alert nearby villagers, and drive the elephants back into the forest,” Ansari said.
He added that the AI technology is designed to specifically detect elephant movement, filtering out signals from humans and other wildlife to avoid false alarms.
Apart from monitoring elephants, the thermal imaging system will also help in the early detection of forest fires by identifying smoke and unusual heat patterns, enabling forest personnel to respond quickly and contain blazes before they spread.
“This early warning mechanism is expected to help identify fires at a nascent stage, allowing forest personnel to reach the site promptly and contain the blaze before it spreads,” Ansari said.
Officials said the cameras are expected to become operational within 15 days, after a technical survey by experts from Coimbatore. The technology for the system has been imported from Sweden.
The project will initially cover Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and will later be expanded to Chandil, Chakulia and other elephant conflict-prone areas of the state depending on its success.
