In a significant step towards wildlife conservation, the Tamil Nadu states Forest Department in India has initiated a trial run of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based early warning system near Madukkarai in Coimbatore district reports, The Hindu. Aimed at preventing elephant fatalities on railway tracks, the system has begun generating alerts, showcasing promising results during its initial phase.
Prompt Interventions and Prevented Collisions
During the trial run, field staff of the Forest Department swiftly responded to alerts regarding elephant movement along or near the tracks between Ettimadai and Walayar stations, traversing through reserve forests. Their timely interventions have successfully prevented several elephants from walking along the tracks or crossing them before train movements, mitigating potential collisions.
Solely Forest Department Alerts and Ongoing Machine Learning
Currently, the Forest Department is the sole recipient of alerts related to elephant movement, as the machine learning process of the cameras mounted on 12 e-surveillance towers along the tracks is still in progress. As the system matures, the alerts will also be extended to railway authorities, providing loco pilots with crucial information to avert collisions with elephants.
Project Overview and Installation of Surveillance Towers
The groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu, involves the installation of five e-surveillance towers with thermal imaging cameras along the ‘A’ line and seven along the ‘B’ line, passing through the Solakkarai reserve forest of the Madukkarai forest range. Covering a ‘highly vulnerable area’ of 7.05 km in the Ettimadai-Walayar section, the early warning system encompasses 2.9 km in the ‘A’ line and 4.15 km in the ‘B’ line.
Future Collaboration with Railway Authorities
Once the machine learning capabilities of the cameras reach the desired level, the system is expected to be fully functional. At that point, the generated alerts will be shared with railway authorities, including loco pilots, enhancing their ability to prevent collisions with elephants and contributing to the overall safety of both wildlife and train operations.
Effectiveness in Capturing Elephant Activity
Officials reported that the AI-based system has effectively captured the activities of elephants camping in the sandwich forest area between the ‘A’ and ‘B’ lines for several days. The ongoing success of the system in sending timely alerts reflects its potential to significantly reduce human-wildlife conflicts in the region.
As the AI-based early warning system continues to prove its efficacy in mitigating the risks of elephant fatalities on railway tracks, Tamil Nadu sets a pioneering example in leveraging technology for wildlife conservation. The collaboration between the Forest Department and railway authorities marks a forward-thinking approach to address human-wildlife conflicts, fostering coexistence between the natural world and modern infrastructure.
