Akhilesh Mishra, an Indian veterinarian, has been treating animals at Pench National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh for 22 years.
He readily identifies the tiger as his favorite animal. “They are incredibly stunning and lovely. I only need to touch their delicate skin to feel at ease “He claims. “! When I cure a wounded tiger and they are allowed to return to the forest, it is an extraterrestrial experience.”
The life of a tiger is difficult, particularly for the females, according to him “For me, the tigress is considerably more powerful than the male tiger. She is extremely courageous in the defense of her cubs. She is a goddess, ready to battle a massive tiger that threatens her cubs.”
The majority of the injured tigers he treats sustained their wounds while hunting or protecting their cubs. However, he has also treated tigers that were poisoned by poachers who placed toxins in known drinking pools.
My heart weeps when I witness innocent people being killed for their skin, nails, and teeth,” he says.
The majority of India’s tiger population, which in 2018 numbered nearly 3,000, resides in one of the 51 tiger reserves, which cover nearly 74,000 square kilometers.
Simply estimating the total tiger population is a formidable undertaking.
To conduct its most recent survey, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) of India deployed camera traps in 26,838 locations, capturing a total of 34,858,517 images of wildlife.
In addition, researchers traveled hundreds of thousands of kilometers on foot in search of tiger and prey signals.
To sift through all of this information, the NTCA employed artificial intelligence (AI) that has been trained to distinguish between various creatures.
In the 2018 survey, artificial intelligence assisted by determining which animals were captured by the camera traps, a task that would have been extremely arduous for humans to perform.
Now, the NTCA seeks to advance the application of artificial intelligence. The development of a new system that will provide rangers with the optimal paths for patrolling the huge territories under their care is underway.
This is accomplished by analyzing data regarding the tiger population, its movements, and the area topography.
Mohmad Sajid Sultan, assistant inspector general at the NTCA, foresees that artificial intelligence would aid rangers in detecting wildlife crimes.
While more technology is desirable, conservationists assert that it cannot replace boots on the ground.
According to environmentalist Debi Goenka, tiger conservation has been successful in protected parks, but tigers outside these regions remain “very vulnerable.”
“Unless we can expand our protected area network and wildlife corridors, it is unlikely that the tiger population will increase,” he says.
Mr. Goenka asserts that more and better-equipped human patrols are required.
“There is a dire need for more field patrols and improved technological monitoring and security. Increase and intensify the use of drones, camera traps, real-time tracking of poachers, and metal detectors for identifying snares and traps “He continues.
As tigers and humans come into closer proximity, thorough surveillance is more important than ever before.
Sunil Limaye is the chief forester for Maharashtra’s Tadaoba National Park. According to him, the number of tigers in his state has climbed from 312 to 400 in the past four years.
However, as the tiger population has increased, so has its interaction with humans, especially as the local population has encroached upon the forests where tigers reside and hunt.
“Livestock predation and assaults on humans have contributed to a poor view of tigers,” he argues.
Mr. Limaya asserts that tigers are particularly vulnerable while moving from one forest to another. He expects that AI can assist in predicting the movements of tigers on the forest’s outskirts.
However, human rangers will remain necessary. Mr. Limaye asserts, “It is currently impossible for AI to replace human intelligence.”
Jerryl Banait, the head of the AVI Foundation, notes that poachers have grown increasingly adept. They map the patrol routes of rangers, avoid regular pathways, and are aware of the locations of surveillance cameras.
His organization has built an artificial intelligence that can utilize data acquired by cameras and rangers, as well as satellite data and information gathered from the local community.
In the future, he believes that forest departments across India can utilize this more advanced hybrid technology to better safeguard wildlife, including animals that live outside National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
“It is of the utmost significance that there be no human intervention in the dwindling wildlife habitats,” he argues, referring to the restricted territory available to wild animals.
Back at Pench National Park, Akhilesh Mishra hopes that conservation efforts can prevent tragedies such as the death of the renowned tigress Baghin Nala.
The 12-year-old cat was discovered dead in the Pench Tiger Reserve in March 2016, having been poisoned alongside two of her offspring.
Mr. Mishra rescued a third cub, which survived in the reserve and now has its cubs: “It was a sight of joy when we raised her in captivity, honing her hunting abilities so she could survive in the tough wilderness.”
