Bhubaneswar, April 25: PCCF Wildlife Susanta Nanda has ushered in a lot of innovation in Wildlife Sector of Odisha. And latest is use of Artificial Intelegance (AI) monitored camera to fight forest fire.
AI Initiative helping out Wildlife officials to detect and fight the forest fire incidents in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district.
Speaking to media persons here, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden Susanta Nanda said that less number of wildfires has been reported from STR in summer this year, as compared to that the same period of last year due to effective of use of AI camera.
With funding from SRC and Forest Survey of India (FSI), the AI cameras have been installed in STR. These cameras help in early detection and alert of fire points so that the forest personnel concerned can swing into action, Nanda said.
Hence, provisions will be made to install more AI cameras at vulnerable points in the STR in coming days ahead, he informed.
Accordingly, AI cameras are also to be installed in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary for early detection of wildfires. Attempts will be made to install AI cameras in vulnerable forests of Southern Odisha districts like Rayagada and Koraput, the PCCF said.
Owing to the use of high-end technology and the Green Fighters and ODRAF personnel the forest fires have remained confined to the buffer area of the Similipal protecting the wild animals in the core area.
“Simlipal & its tiger have a safe haven to flourish…Our green soldiers & team ODRAF are working in adverse conditions to keep the forest fire at http://bay.No part of the core or its adjoining buffer area is affected. Fire seen in areas near to villages in the fringe,” Nanda said on X.
The Wildlife wing received 26 fire alerts in the Sanctuaries today. Happy to inform that our field staff with ODRAF, attended to all the points, have extinguished them, he informed.
The PCCF further said that AI cameras installed on watch towers are capable of 360-degree surveillance. Forest personnel reach the affected spots by using Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and douse the flames.
At least 209 fire points were detected so far and the blazes were brought under control. Only five fire points were detected today and were effectively doused, he stated.
Six AI-based towers have been installed on a priority basis across the Similipal sanctuary. Equipped with high-resolution cameras capable of 360-degree movement, these towers detect activities up to a distance of 15 km making it easier to detect forest fires and illegal hunting of wildlife. The cost of installing each AI tower is around Rs 2.5 crore, sources said.