News Excerpt:
Recent deployment of Gajraj by Indian Railways has highlighted the use of technology in elephant conservation efforts.
AI Solutions for Elephant Safety
- In India, the Indian Railways has leveraged its extensive optical fiber cable (OFC) network to introduce an AI-based system called Gajraj.
- This system uses geophonic sensors on OFC lines to detect the deep, resonant footsteps of passing elephants.
- The AI analyses the data, identifying elephant-specific vibrations, and promptly sends alerts to locomotive drivers, enabling them to reduce train speeds.
- The Gajraj system is operational in the Alipurduar area of North West Bengal, a region that has experienced several tragic accidents involving elephants.
Status of Elephant Conservation in India:
- The elephant population in India is estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000, earning the species an "endangered" status.
- Their current range is only 3.5% of its historical extent, now limited to the Himalayan foothills, the northeast, some forests of central India, and the hilly forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
Concerns Related to Elephants:
- One of the significant concerns for elephant conservation is the fragmentation of their habitat.
- These small, forested areas interspersed with human-developed landscapes not only restrict elephants' movement but also limit their breeding choices.
- This fragmentation leads to genetic bottlenecks, reducing the long-term fitness of the herds.
- The frequent movement of elephants across these fragmented habitats often brings them into contact with roads and railway lines, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
- Female elephants cover a range of about 500 sq. km, making road or railway crossings inevitable in fragmented landscapes.
Successful Practices:
- Efforts to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and ensure safe migration routes have led to the identification of 18 elephant routes between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- Wildlife corridors, such as the Motichur-Chilla corridor in Uttarakhand, have been established to facilitate safe migration with minimal human contact.
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- This corridor connects Corbett and Rajaji National Parks, promoting genetic flow between elephant populations.
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- Total Elephant corridors in India have now increased to 150.
- In Canada, a study implemented train-triggered warning systems with flashing lights and bell sounds to condition animals to associate these signals with approaching trains.
- The study showed that large animals, like elks and grizzly bears, responded by leaving the tracks about 17 seconds before the train arrived when warnings were present, compared to 10 seconds without warnings.Similar practices can be adopted for Elephant conservation in India.
Conclusion:
These initiatives illustrate the potential of technology and strategic planning in mitigating human-elephant conflicts and promoting the conservation of these majestic creatures.
