AI technology to alert 40 villages near forests about tiger, leopard movement

An AI-based alert system that warns villagers and the forest department if tigers or leopards are spotted near forest-adjacent villages has been activated in the rural Nagpur region.

The system has already started sending warnings about the presence of tigers or leopards in nearby areas.

In the past three years, 15 incidents have occurred in rural Nagpur where villagers died in attacks by tigers or leopards.

In several of these cases, anger among villagers led to law-and-order issues.

To address this, the Forest Department and Nagpur Rural Police have started AI-based (Artificial Intelligence-based) measures.

According to alerts received from the system, villagers and the Forest Department were warned on Thursday night for the second time about a tiger’s presence near Pipariya village close to Deolapar.

Pipariya is the first village to have this system installed.

Notably, by April 15, the system will be installed in 40 sensitive villages across wildlife and territorial forest divisions.

The AI system is being developed by MARVEL, Maharashtra’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that contributes to expanding the use of AI technology across various state government departments.

Talking to TheIndian Express, CEO of MARVEL and SP (Rural) Harssh Poddar said, “In Nagpur, the Forest Department is divided into two divisions – Nagpur Territorial and Nagpur Wildlife, which includes Pench and Umred-Karhandla.

Across both these divisions, installations are being carried out in 40 villages.”
He added, “The cameras work using two types of technology.

The first is bio-acoustics, which is sound-based detection.

These cameras have the capacity to listen.

When they detect alarm calls from prey species such as sambar, chital, langurs, or peacocks, the system identifies these signals.

The AI then analyses the sound patterns and automatically triggers a siren in the village, while also sending alert messages.”
“The second is bio-visual detection, which is image-based.

If the cameras capture images of wild animals – and they also have night-vision capability – the system immediately sends an alarm,” he said.

Bio-acoustics is particularly important because tigers and leopards are extremely stealthy animals.

In reality, it is unlikely that they will pass directly in front of a camera – perhaps in only one out of a hundred instances.

More often, their presence has to be detected by listening to the alarm calls of prey animals, Poddar said.

“Before installing the cameras, we first consult the villagers to decide the best locations.

Villagers usually have the most accurate knowledge of the routes from which wild animals enter their areas,” he said.

The first installation has taken place in Pipariya village, which is located just outside Pench, near Deolapar village.

“We have already spoken with the Gram Panchayat there about how the system will function.

As installations continue, each village will be briefed about how the technology works.”
The first level of consultation focuses on deciding where the cameras should be placed.

The installations are expected to be completed by April, covering 20 villages in the Pench wildlife area and 20 villages in the Nagpur territorial division.

SP Poddar said that incidents in the past few years had led to law-and-order issues.

As a solution, they began using AI technology.

With the help of the Forest Department, 40 locations identified as sensitive to wildlife attacks have been selected and cameras will be installed there on priority.

The system has already become operational and, within the past four days, it has issued two alerts about the presence of tigers and leopards to forest officials and villagers.

The system is being implemented in areas including Khapa and Parseoni within both the wildlife division that includes the Pench Tiger Reserve and the territorial forest division.

There is also a proposal to install this system in the Navegaon–Nagzira Tiger Reserve and Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Forest Department and MARVEL for this project, said Nagpur Rural SP Harssh Poddar.

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express.

Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding.

With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams.

Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation.

She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement)
Professional Background & Expertise
Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express
Experience: Started working in 2016
Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise.

Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region.

Key focus areas include:
Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools.

Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights.

Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion.

Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur.

Education & Credentials
Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms.

Her academic foundation includes:
MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University)
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University)
Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology
Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights
Recent Notable Coverage
Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability:
Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam?

Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions.

Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response.

Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions.

Signature Beat
Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety.

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