AI Cameras to Track Tigers and Save Villagers: Maharashtra Adopts Smart Tech for Forest Safety

Nagpur – In a bold step to prevent man-animal conflicts and save human lives, the Maharashtra government is introducing artificial intelligence (AI)-based cameras in several tiger reserve areas. These smart cameras will track tiger and leopard movements and instantly alert nearby villages when danger is detected.

This decision comes after 21 people lost their lives between January and April 2025 due to attacks by wild animals, according to data from the forest department. Many of these victims were villagers living in forest fringe areas who were caught unaware by wild predators while working in fields or walking through forest trails.

Smart Cameras in Wild Zones
 

The state will install 3,145 AI-powered cameras across major tiger habitats including:

• Pench Tiger Reserve (875 cameras)
• Tadoba-Andhari Reserve (525 cameras)
• Navegaon Forest Area (600 cameras)
• Nagpur Forest Division (1,145 cameras)

The installation process is expected to be completed by December 2025.

These AI cameras are not ordinary surveillance tools. They are designed to detect alarm calls made by herbivorous animals like deer and antelope. When these animals sense a predator like a tiger or leopard, they give off natural warning calls. The cameras will recognize these patterns and instantly alert forest officials.

Life-Saving Alerts for Villages

But the safety net doesn’t stop there. Once the camera system detects predator activity:

• A real-time alert will be sent to forest department officers.
• A new mobile app will also push the alert to village heads (sarpanch) and key community members.
• A siren will be triggered in the village to warn residents to stay indoors or avoid certain routes.

This system will act as an early warning mechanism, helping prevent attacks by giving villagers valuable minutes to respond.

Official Announcement and MoU
 

The plan was formalized on Saturday through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Revenue Department and Maharashtra Research and Vigilance for Enhanced Law Enforcement Ltd (MARVEL).

The MoU was signed in Nagpur by:

• Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Revenue Minister of Maharashtra
• Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Finance

MARVEL, which was set up in 2024 by the state government, is already working on AI and surveillance tools for the police force, and will now extend its expertise to forest protection.

Why This Move Matters

Wildlife experts have long pointed out that human-wildlife conflict is a growing problem in Maharashtra. As human settlements and farms get closer to forest zones, tigers, leopards, and other wild animals often enter villages, either in search of food or due to habitat loss.

Forest guards often arrive too late, after a person is attacked or a crop is destroyed. The AI camera system could be a game-changer, providing real-time alerts, helping save lives, and also protecting the animals from retaliatory attacks.

Harsh Poddar, CEO of MARVEL and Superintendent of Police, Nagpur District, said,

“This is not just a technology upgrade. It’s about giving villagers a fighting chance to stay safe, and helping forest teams respond quickly.”

A Step Further: Solar Fencing and Mobile Connectivity
 

This is not the first time Maharashtra has taken action to protect people from wild animals. The government had earlier initiated projects like:

• Solar-powered fencing to prevent animals from crossing into human areas
• Improved patrolling by forest rangers
• Awareness drives in villages

However, the AI-powered camera system is the most advanced initiative yet, aiming to bridge the gap between technology and rural safety.

The Bigger Picture
 

Maharashtra is home to a large population of Bengal tigers and Indian leopards, and tiger reserves like Tadoba and Pench are internationally known. While conservation efforts have helped increase tiger numbers, they have also raised concerns about how humans and wildlife can coexist peacefully.

Minister Bawankule said,

“We are using AI not just to monitor wildlife, but to save human lives. Every life matters — whether it’s a villager or a wild animal.”

What Comes Next

The government plans to train forest officers and village heads on using the new alert system and app. There are also talks of extending this technology to other sensitive forest zones in Maharashtra once the current rollout is complete.

If successful, Maharashtra’s AI wildlife alert system could become a model for other states in India facing similar challenges.

Bottom Line?
Technology is now walking side by side with tigers — and it’s helping save lives.