By Richa Sharma
Worried over increasing tiger deaths each year and many due to poaching and poisoning, India plans to start round-the-clock electronic surveillance of some of the tiger habitats using high definition cameras.
After the satisfactory results of a pilot study in the Kalagarh range of the Corbett National Park, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has decided to expand e-surveillance to Assam's Kaziranga Natonal Park, Madhya Pradesh's Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and the Ramnagar division surrounding Corbett.
Under the project, high resolution thermal and infrared cameras mounted on towers will capture image of objects weighing more than 20 kg in a range of 3-5 km and generate alerts if they cross the boundary.
"The use of technology is one way to ensure safety of tigers. We are in the process of improving technology and monitoring methodology in tiger habitats. We are planning to get more tiger habitats under electronic surveillance," a senior environment ministry official told IANS.
"Electronic surveillance helps in two ways by keeping an eye on unauthorised people entering into the tiger habitat areas and tigers straying into human habitat," he said.
2012 saw the highest tiger mortality in the past one decade with 88 deaths and an alarming 53 falling prey to poachers. The most tiger deaths were reported from Maharashtra and Karnataka. More....