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Alerts to be Issued if Tigers or Leopards Enter Village Limits ?? 'AI' System for Issuing Alerts Now Operational
Nagpur, April 13 – Deolapar, located in the Ramtek taluka, is a tribal-dominated region—specifically a village situated within the immediate vicinity (the *Panchkroshi*) of the Pench Tiger Reserve. Adjacent to it lies a small village named Pipariya. The roaring and movement of tigers are not exactly novel occurrences in this village. From time to time, the village has witnessed fatal attacks on humans, alongside attacks on livestock. To safeguard human lives against such threats, the Nagpur Rural Police and the Forest Department began deliberating on innovative remedial measures. This initiative eventually took shape as an AI-based project. As a result of this endeavor, the system has now been commissioned at three locations; villagers in these sensitive areas have begun receiving alerts warning them of the presence and movement of tigers and leopards.
On Thursday night, the system issued an alert to both the villagers and the Forest Department regarding the presence of a tiger near Pipariya (adjacent to Deolapar), prompting the villagers to be on high alert. Significantly, by April 15, this system is slated to be installed and made operational in 40 sensitive villages—covering areas under both the Forest Department's Pench Wildlife Division and its Regional Division. For the time being, alerts will be delivered via mobile phones to a select group of individuals, including the village Sarpanch. However, provisions for a siren-based warning system are also scheduled to be implemented subsequently.
Over the past two and a half to three years, the Nagpur rural region has witnessed 15 incidents involving the death of villagers due to attacks by tigers or leopards. In many of these instances, the incidents sparked outrage among the villagers, leading to issues concerning law and order. Consequently, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had directed the administration to formulate and implement measures to provide relief and assurance to the villagers.
Acting on these directives, the Forest Department and the Nagpur Rural Police initiated the implementation of these AI-based (Artificial Intelligence-based) remedial measures. Marvel—an organization dedicated to enhancing the utilization of AI technology across various departments of the State Government—was selected to spearhead an innovative initiative centered on an AI-based alert system. Harsh Poddar, the Superintendent of Police for Nagpur Rural and CEO of Marvel, emphasized the critical need for such a solution and established a structured framework for its implementation.
Speaking on the matter, he noted that incidents occurring over the past two to three years have frequently raised concerns regarding law and order. As a remedial measure, the administration has initiated the deployment of AI technology. Marvel has developed an AI-based system designed to issue alerts whenever aggressive animals—such as tigers, leopards, or bears—are detected roaming within village precincts. As part of this initiative, high-resolution, state-of-the-art cameras have been strategically installed at specific locations. This technology operates through two distinct modes: 'Bio-acoustics' (sound-based detection) and 'Bio-visuals' (direct visual detection). When tigers or leopards enter an area, herbivorous animals—such as Chital, Sambar deer, and monkeys—as well as peacocks, emit specific vocalizations to alert the entire vicinity. By capturing these distinct sounds, the AI ??technology analyzes the data and automatically dispatches corresponding alerts to the relevant stakeholders. These alerts are delivered directly to the mobile phones of Forest Department officials and villagers. Furthermore, utilizing the 'Bio-visual' mode, the system also triggers alerts whenever the cameras directly capture visual images of the animals.
Superintendent of Police Poddar stated that, in collaboration with the Forest Department, 40 locations deemed highly vulnerable to wildlife attacks have been identified, and cameras have been installed at these sites on a priority basis. The system was successfully commissioned at three of these locations just this week; notably, within the last four days alone, alerts regarding the presence of tigers and leopards were issued to both the Forest Department and local villagers on two separate occasions. This system is being implemented in the Khapa and Parshivni areas—encompassing both the wildlife zones (including the Forest Department's Pench Tiger Reserve) and the regional forest divisions. He further clarified that once fully operational, this system will also incorporate a siren mechanism.
Superintendent of Police Harsh Poddar stated that there is a proposal to install this system in the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district; in this regard, the Forest Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the organization 'Marvel'.
Nagpur, April 13 – Deolapar, located in the Ramtek taluka, is a tribal-dominated region—specifically a village situated within the immediate vicinity (the *Panchkroshi*) of the Pench Tiger Reserve. Adjacent to it lies a small village named Pipariya. The roaring and movement of tigers are not exactly novel occurrences in this village. From time to time, the village has witnessed fatal attacks on humans, alongside attacks on livestock. To safeguard human lives against such threats, the Nagpur Rural Police and the Forest Department began deliberating on innovative remedial measures. This initiative eventually took shape as an AI-based project. As a result of this endeavor, the system has now been commissioned at three locations; villagers in these sensitive areas have begun receiving alerts warning them of the presence and movement of tigers and leopards.
On Thursday night, the system issued an alert to both the villagers and the Forest Department regarding the presence of a tiger near Pipariya (adjacent to Deolapar), prompting the villagers to be on high alert. Significantly, by April 15, this system is slated to be installed and made operational in 40 sensitive villages—covering areas under both the Forest Department's Pench Wildlife Division and its Regional Division. For the time being, alerts will be delivered via mobile phones to a select group of individuals, including the village Sarpanch. However, provisions for a siren-based warning system are also scheduled to be implemented subsequently.
Over the past two and a half to three years, the Nagpur rural region has witnessed 15 incidents involving the death of villagers due to attacks by tigers or leopards. In many of these instances, the incidents sparked outrage among the villagers, leading to issues concerning law and order. Consequently, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had directed the administration to formulate and implement measures to provide relief and assurance to the villagers.
Acting on these directives, the Forest Department and the Nagpur Rural Police initiated the implementation of these AI-based (Artificial Intelligence-based) remedial measures. Marvel—an organization dedicated to enhancing the utilization of AI technology across various departments of the State Government—was selected to spearhead an innovative initiative centered on an AI-based alert system. Harsh Poddar, the Superintendent of Police for Nagpur Rural and CEO of Marvel, emphasized the critical need for such a solution and established a structured framework for its implementation.
Speaking on the matter, he noted that incidents occurring over the past two to three years have frequently raised concerns regarding law and order. As a remedial measure, the administration has initiated the deployment of AI technology. Marvel has developed an AI-based system designed to issue alerts whenever aggressive animals—such as tigers, leopards, or bears—are detected roaming within village precincts. As part of this initiative, high-resolution, state-of-the-art cameras have been strategically installed at specific locations. This technology operates through two distinct modes: 'Bio-acoustics' (sound-based detection) and 'Bio-visuals' (direct visual detection). When tigers or leopards enter an area, herbivorous animals—such as Chital, Sambar deer, and monkeys—as well as peacocks, emit specific vocalizations to alert the entire vicinity. By capturing these distinct sounds, the AI ??technology analyzes the data and automatically dispatches corresponding alerts to the relevant stakeholders. These alerts are delivered directly to the mobile phones of Forest Department officials and villagers. Furthermore, utilizing the 'Bio-visual' mode, the system also triggers alerts whenever the cameras directly capture visual images of the animals.
Superintendent of Police Poddar stated that, in collaboration with the Forest Department, 40 locations deemed highly vulnerable to wildlife attacks have been identified, and cameras have been installed at these sites on a priority basis. The system was successfully commissioned at three of these locations just this week; notably, within the last four days alone, alerts regarding the presence of tigers and leopards were issued to both the Forest Department and local villagers on two separate occasions. This system is being implemented in the Khapa and Parshivni areas—encompassing both the wildlife zones (including the Forest Department's Pench Tiger Reserve) and the regional forest divisions. He further clarified that once fully operational, this system will also incorporate a siren mechanism.
Superintendent of Police Harsh Poddar stated that there is a proposal to install this system in the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district; in this regard, the Forest Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the organization 'Marvel'.
On Thursday night, the system issued an alert to both the villagers and the Forest Department regarding the presence of a tiger near Pipariya (adjacent to Deolapar), prompting the villagers to be on high alert. Significantly, by April 15, this system is slated to be installed and made operational in 40 sensitive villages—covering areas under both the Forest Department's Pench Wildlife Division and its Regional Division. For the time being, alerts will be delivered via mobile phones to a select group of individuals, including the village Sarpanch. However, provisions for a siren-based warning system are also scheduled to be implemented subsequently.
Over the past two and a half to three years, the Nagpur rural region has witnessed 15 incidents involving the death of villagers due to attacks by tigers or leopards. In many of these instances, the incidents sparked outrage among the villagers, leading to issues concerning law and order. Consequently, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had directed the administration to formulate and implement measures to provide relief and assurance to the villagers.
Acting on these directives, the Forest Department and the Nagpur Rural Police initiated the implementation of these AI-based (Artificial Intelligence-based) remedial measures. Marvel—an organization dedicated to enhancing the utilization of AI technology across various departments of the State Government—was selected to spearhead an innovative initiative centered on an AI-based alert system. Harsh Poddar, the Superintendent of Police for Nagpur Rural and CEO of Marvel, emphasized the critical need for such a solution and established a structured framework for its implementation.
Speaking on the matter, he noted that incidents occurring over the past two to three years have frequently raised concerns regarding law and order. As a remedial measure, the administration has initiated the deployment of AI technology. Marvel has developed an AI-based system designed to issue alerts whenever aggressive animals—such as tigers, leopards, or bears—are detected roaming within village precincts. As part of this initiative, high-resolution, state-of-the-art cameras have been strategically installed at specific locations. This technology operates through two distinct modes: 'Bio-acoustics' (sound-based detection) and 'Bio-visuals' (direct visual detection). When tigers or leopards enter an area, herbivorous animals—such as Chital, Sambar deer, and monkeys—as well as peacocks, emit specific vocalizations to alert the entire vicinity. By capturing these distinct sounds, the AI ??technology analyzes the data and automatically dispatches corresponding alerts to the relevant stakeholders. These alerts are delivered directly to the mobile phones of Forest Department officials and villagers. Furthermore, utilizing the 'Bio-visual' mode, the system also triggers alerts whenever the cameras directly capture visual images of the animals.
Superintendent of Police Poddar stated that, in collaboration with the Forest Department, 40 locations deemed highly vulnerable to wildlife attacks have been identified, and cameras have been installed at these sites on a priority basis. The system was successfully commissioned at three of these locations just this week; notably, within the last four days alone, alerts regarding the presence of tigers and leopards were issued to both the Forest Department and local villagers on two separate occasions. This system is being implemented in the Khapa and Parshivni areas—encompassing both the wildlife zones (including the Forest Department's Pench Tiger Reserve) and the regional forest divisions. He further clarified that once fully operational, this system will also incorporate a siren mechanism.
Superintendent of Police Harsh Poddar stated that there is a proposal to install this system in the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district; in this regard, the Forest Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the organization 'Marvel'.
