Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Forest Division is all set to try out ultra tech elephant monitoring camera system to manage Human-Elephant Interactions in fringe areas here.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Forest Division is all set to try out ultra tech elephant monitoring camera system to manage Human-Elephant Interactions in fringe areas here.
According to District Forest Officer, D. Venkatesh, seven such cameras are to be fit at a cost of Rs. 7 crores in seven ranges to check whether the system is helpful.
“The camera would immediately take a photograph of wild elephants that venture out of forests and send an indication including the location details to the server. Once information is received, Anti-depredation squads can be easily mobilised in such areas and damage can be minimised,” he said after an interaction session with experts, which was chaired by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) Debasis Jana.
He further added that the system would also help identify the number of elephants that venture out so that mitigation can be planned for lone elephants and herds.
“If the system is successful, we can extend it to problematic areas throughout the division and bring down negative interactions between elephants and humans,” informed the DFO.
He also added that additional mitigation measures including patrolling of 2.7 kms railway stretch between Walayar and Palakkad and regular monitoring of elephant movements would be strengthened.