AI Alert System to Mitigate Wildlife Conflicts in Forest Villages

An AI-based system will be introduced in around 1,000 villages adjoining forest areas in the state to provide real-time alerts on wildlife movement so as to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the standing committee of the State Wildlife Board chaired by Naik at Mantralaya.

The Rs 260 crore plan also includes setting up 10 advanced control rooms in the first phase along with two rescue centres and 10 transit treatment facilities for injured or captured wild animals.

Naik said that AI-based alert systems were first set up on a pilot basis in a few villages located near forest areas, and proved to be effective.

To strengthen response capacity, the government will also establish rapid rescue teams at 20 locations, and set up around 2,000 primary response teams involving local villagers to assist the forest department in emergency situations.

Further, two mobile squads will be deployed to capture animals such as deer, monkeys and wild boars that damage crops and relocate them back to forest areas.

The government is also considering setting up sterilisation centres at two locations to control the population of monkeys and wild boars.

(With inputs from agencies.)