In a significant move to address the growing menace of human-animal confrontations, the Karnataka Forest Department officially launched a state-level Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) this Saturday. The high-tech hub, based in Bengaluru's Aranya Bhavan, is designed to provide real-time monitoring of wildlife movement and enable faster, technology-backed interventions during emergencies.
A Central Hub for Coordinated Action
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre inaugurated the central facility along with seven regional control centres. He stated that the ICCC will act as a single-point monitoring hub with the primary goals of reducing human casualties and minimising damage to agricultural crops caused by wild animals. The minister highlighted that strict enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has successfully boosted wildlife populations, but this conservation success has simultaneously intensified conflicts in villages situated on forest fringes.
How the Technology-Driven System Works
The command centre is engineered to be the nerve centre for wildlife management in the state. It will analyse multiple streams of live data, including feeds from AI-enabled cameras, satellite imagery, and movement patterns from radio-collared elephants. This data synthesis will allow the centre to issue advance alerts about animal movements near human settlements.
Furthermore, the ICCC will track GPS-enabled patrol teams on the ground, identify zones that are prone to repeated conflicts, and facilitate the swift deployment of rapid response units. For citizens, the department has reinforced its helpline, 1926, which residents in forest-adjacent areas can use to report wildlife sightings or any forest-related offences. Once a call is logged, the information is immediately relayed to the concerned forest division and is continuously tracked by senior officers until the situation is fully resolved.
Statewide Network for Real-Time Response
The Bengaluru-based ICCC is not operating in isolation. It is directly interconnected with divisional command centres established in 11 high-conflict regions across Karnataka. This network ensures coordinated, real-time responses to any human-wildlife conflict situation, regardless of its location in the state.
Minister Khandre explained the necessity for this technological leap, noting, "With over 43,000 sqkm of forest area, it is not feasible to protect such a vast landscape using manpower alone. Recognising the need for technology-based solutions, we proposed the ICCC and regional centres, secured funding, and have now made it operational." This initiative marks a pivotal shift from purely manual patrols to an integrated, intelligence-driven system aimed at fostering safer coexistence between humans and wildlife.
