Gujarat's AI Wildlife Watch: Lions and Bears Under Digital Eye

Gujarat is set to launch a Rs 150-crore Command and Control Centre (CCC) in Gandhinagar, utilizing AI, drones, and CCTV networks to enhance wildlife surveillance across the state. This advanced system will monitor iconic species like lions, sloth bears, black bucks, and wild asses, particularly in areas prone to human-wildlife conflict.

The new technological infrastructure aims to provide real-time data, enabling quicker responses to emergencies and facilitating better forest management, such as assessing prey base and tree overgrowth. The project will also integrate feeds from existing surveillance systems, like those used by Western Railway to prevent train-related wildlife fatalities.

In a significant conservation effort, Gujarat has dedicated a 100-hectare enclosure for a second Great Indian Bustard chick. This critically endangered bird was born using an innovative jump-start method with an egg from Rajasthan. Efforts are underway to ensure its survival in a protected habitat.

The CCC's surveillance will cover Greater Gir, the Rann of Kutch for wild asses, the Velavadar sanctuary for blackbucks, and sloth bear corridors. Frontline forest staff will be equipped with body-worn cameras connected to the control centre, further strengthening monitoring capabilities.