Elephants Saved by AI Cameras: Odisha’s Innovative Wildlife Solution. Click to see how
Elephants Saved by AI Cameras: Odisha’s Innovative Wildlife Solution. Click to see how
An AI-powered camera recently played a crucial role in preventing a serious train accident in the Rourkela forest division of Sundargarh district in Odisha. The incident could have endangered three elephants, but thanks to the quick actions of the railway and forest departments, disaster was averted.
AI camera captures & zooms into the elephants approaching the railway line, sending alerts to the control room for stopping the train.
— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) December 8, 2024
We had solutions. Happy to see that the ones implemented are now giving results.These 4 cameras along the track was part of mitigation measures. pic.twitter.com/RBNe0hPOnl
Retired Indian Forest Service officer Susanta Nanda shared that the AI camera detected a calf and two adult elephants nearing the railway tracks and promptly alerted the Forest Department’s control room. The camera tracked the elephants’ movements and provided real-time location data and images to both the railway and forest control rooms. As a result, the railways took immediate action to ensure the elephants crossed safely, delaying a cargo train’s departure by 30 minutes.
“An AI camera zoomed in on the elephants nearing the railway line and alerted the control room to stop the train. We had solutions, and it’s great to see the implemented measures yielding results. These four cameras along the track are part of our mitigation efforts,” wrote retired Indian Forest Service officer Nanda on X (formerly Twitter).
“Funded by RSP through its site-specific wildlife conservation plan, this initiative was launched as a pilot project in the Rourkela Forest Division, with plans to expand it to Keonjhar and Bonai Forest Divisions. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Nanda added in another tweet.
Funded by RSP out of its site specific wildlife conservation plan, it was implemented on a pilot basis in Rourkella Forest Division. Keonjhar & Bonai Forest Divisions are in the pipeline to upscale this initiative.
— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) December 8, 2024
Win win situation for all.
The video shared on December 8 has received over 290,000 views and sparked various reactions. One user commented, “Feels so good to see, apt use of tech. Maybe in the future, we can use this tech for locating poachers as well.”
Second commented, “Sir, You are one of few accounts whose every tweet has some meaning and compassion. Keep doing what you and your team are doing. God Bless.”
“Impressive use of technology! Great to see these measures yielding positive results,” a user on X wrote, Fourth commented, “Thank you for the amazing steps.”
Another commented, “Wonderful. We need this useful tech to be expanded to a lot more places.”
In May, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department installed 12 AI camera towers along two railway routes in Madukkarai to help prevent deadly train accidents, as reported by BBC News.
