AI Eyes End Human-Animal Conflict. Tech Scares Elephants Back Into Forests

Maduram, a senior citizen  living closer to a forest area at Mettupalayam in  Coimbatore sleeps peacefully at night now a days. Many in this area have been killed or injured by wild animals in the past, including elephants and wild boars entering human inhabitations. Cultivations have been destroyed as well. However, artificial intelligence  based cameras installed along the village  borders have now given them peace. The system raises alarm and chases the approaching  wild animals back into the forest. Maduram told tellmystory.in “Earlier we were in fear at night not knowing when elephants would come and harm. We used to light torch to see. Now the siren sounds”.

Selvi Nirmala, a local body leader added “People are so safe now. The alert sound immediately alerts them and stay safe. Earlier at night there jey wouldn’t know where the elephant is and we’re attacked”. 

The AI based technology was developed by a Vellore based start-up BGENT co-founded by PG Ragavandir and V Ganapathy. Its algorithm identifies the kind of animal attempting to intrude and triggers a set of  customised sounds that would scare them to retreat. “Based on the movement and other factors the system identifies what animal is it – elephant, wild boar, leopard or birds and activates a series of  customised sounds and a frequency which would scare the animal and make it return”.