The forest department has commenced the installation of advanced AI-enabled thermal cameras in the Dalma, Chakulia, and Chandil forest ranges to mitigate human-elephant conflict (HEC). Officials confirmed that a total of 52 cameras will be deployed in a phased manner throughout this year.
First Phase Deployment
In the initial phase, 26 cameras have been distributed across key areas: Chakulia (Jamshedpur Forest Division) with 10 cameras, Chandil (Seraikela Forest Division) with 10 cameras, and Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary with 6 cameras.
Jamshedpur DFO Saba Alam, who also oversees the Dalma and Seraikela divisions, stated, 'We are constructing 40-foot-high towers at the identified sites to mount these cameras.' Installation began on Wednesday, and the system is expected to be fully operational within a month and a half.
How the System Works
While the cameras monitor various wildlife movements, they are specifically programmed to detect elephants moving toward the foothills. Once an elephant is spotted approaching human habitation, an automated alarm system activates, sending real-time location alerts directly to the mobile phones of the watch-and-ward squad. To complement this technology, dedicated teams of foresters and guards will patrol the buffer zones separating the forest from nearby villages.
Upon receiving WhatsApp alerts, guards tracking the area in GPS-enabled jeeps will rush to the location to safely drive the elephants back into the forest, using walkie-talkies for coordination.
Identified High-Risk Villages
The forest department has identified specific high-risk villages for this project. In the Chakulia range, the villages include Rajabasa, Jamua, Kalsimung, Machadia, Purnapani, and Morbera. In the Chandil range, areas include Kushputul, Nimdih, Kukdu, Anda, Raghunathpur, and Burudih. Under the Dalma range, Nutandih, Konkadasa, Gerua, Bhilaipahari, and Badkabandh have been identified.
'Depending on the requirement, new sites could be added,' the DFO added.
Historical Data on Human-Elephant Conflict
Data indicates that between 2017 and May 2026, the Chakulia range experienced 43 deaths and 37 injuries. Additionally, the destruction included 271 homes and more than 400 hectares of crop damage. In the Chandil range, 17 deaths and 22 injuries were reported, along with more than 200 homes destroyed and more than 300 hectares of crops damaged. There have been no reports of casualties in the Dalma sanctuary in recent years.
