AI system eavesdrops on elephants to prevent deadly encounters in India

Mongabay
Mongabay
2M ago
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An AI-powered device developed by Seema Lokhandwala detects elephant calls and plays deterrent sounds to prevent human-elephant conflicts in Assam, India. This innovation is crucial as human-elephant encounters have led to numerous fatalities over the years.
AI system eavesdrops on elephants to prevent deadly encounters in India
A What happened
In Assam, India, engineer Seema Lokhandwala has developed an innovative AI-powered device designed to mitigate human-elephant conflicts by detecting elephant vocalizations and playing deterrent sounds. This initiative comes in response to the alarming rise in human-elephant encounters, which have resulted in the deaths of 1,468 people and 1,209 elephants from 2000 to 2023. The device has shown an 80% accuracy in detecting elephant calls and has been 100% effective in deterring them during field trials. Despite its success, experts stress that technology alone cannot solve the issue; addressing the root causes such as habitat loss and changing community perceptions towards elephants is crucial for sustainable coexistence. Lokhandwala's work has garnered support from local communities and forest officials, highlighting the need for innovative solutions in wildlife conservation.
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Key insights

  • 1

    High human-elephant conflict rates: Assam has one of the highest incidences of human-elephant conflicts in India.

  • 2

    AI technology's effectiveness: The AI device has shown 80% accuracy in detecting elephant calls and 100% success in deterring them.

  • 3

    Need for habitat restoration: Addressing habitat loss and land use is essential for reducing conflicts.

  • 4

    Community support: Local communities and forest officials support Lokhandwala's innovative approach.

Takeaways

While Lokhandwala's AI device represents a significant advancement in mitigating human-elephant conflicts, it is imperative to combine technological solutions with efforts to restore habitats and improve community attitudes towards elephants for lasting coexistence.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Artificial Intelligence Climate & Environment Wildlife Conservation