“Tyger, Tyger, burning bright, in the forests of the night. What immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
It’s been over 230 years since renowned English poet William Blake wrote his magnum opus ‘Tyger’ as a tribute to the majestic beast that has long wandered the Asian jungles.
Today, the beast is in trouble in India—its natural habitat for thousands of years—as it is reduced to just above 3000 in count, thanks to incessant game hunting, a well-oiled poaching cartel, and, in general, man-animal conflict.
Now, to tackle the poaching menace, forest officials in India are taking the help of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to not just monitor the endangered species but also help analyze patterns, routes, and jungles used by the poachers.
What’s Ailing Tigers of India?
Tiger, the national animal of India, stands not just as a symbol of royalty, grace, and agility but also as an integral part of the nation’s ecological identity. Ever since the Indus Valley Civilization, the beast has held a significant place in Indian culture. However, over the centuries, incessant game hunting by royals and British colonizers and an ongoing poaching industry have brought this beast almost to the verge of extinction.
“There is a global demand for raw materials for luxury products. Traditional medicines and ritual practices in China and Southeast Asian countries still use tiger parts and rhino horns. This is the biggest reason for tiger poaching,” said a biologist based out of Gujarat, who has been associated with wildlife conservation.
What’s the government saying?
The Indian government claims that it has taken proactive steps, including the launch of Project Tiger in 1973, to save the tigers from poachers and game hunters and otherwise man-animal conflict. Today, teams of government officials and forest guards are on the lookout to thwart poachers in tiger reserves.
Under Project Tiger, the number of tigers in India has increased from a mere 1411 in 2006 to 3682 in 2023.
What’s the on-ground reality of tigers in India?
However, not everything is as hunky-dory as the Indian government claims about tiger conservation in India. A recent investigative report by The Indian Express shows that over 100 tigers have been killed for poaching in the past three years through a well-oiled international syndicate of poachers, right under the noses of forest guards.
The report further states that poachers in India are using gadgets as well as a digital payment system to avoid detection by forest officials, ensuring that tiger parts are safely smuggled from the deep jungles of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka to the porous Myanmar borders of India’s Northeast to finally China and other Asian nations for end customers.
Experts cite various reasons for the failure of these agencies.
“To start with, all agencies and the state forest department work without any coordination when it’s time for partnership between both inter-organizations and intra-organizations. Furthermore, the government is least interested in taking wildlife crimes seriously. Also, many NGOs working for wildlife protection are also napping,” added the expert.
AI: The New Player Protecting Tigers
As the tiger population rises in India, so do the challenges in protecting them. Despite the efforts, challenges like poaching and tiger-human conflicts persist.
This phase is where the AI can elevate the conservation game to a new level. AI possesses both positive and negative aspects. It has the potential to both help and harm our royal cat. In the past few years, adoption of this emerging technology has helped overcome the challenges in protecting tigers.
Effective Tracking of Tigers
The stripes of tigers are like fingerprints of humans, and every tiger has a unique pattern of stripes. To identify a tiger, zoologists usually study their pattern. This process can be quite exhausting and time-consuming as it requires a team of wildlife experts tracking tigers by analyzing footprints and claw marks on trees and following the routes.
AI-enabled cameras, which have night vision, have cut the tracking and surveying time down to 2 weeks.
Reduce Man-Animal Conflict
Not all tigers are man-eaters. In fact, very rarely does a tiger turn a predator on humans. However, an AI-enabled camera allows for the segregation of man-eating tigers from others, ensuring they receive extra attention. The AI system can send early alerts to the authorities if a man-eating tiger approaches a human civilization.
AI can help curb poaching
AI-enabled cameras with night vision can send real-time alerts to the authorities. These cameras do a better job than the human eye at night. This technique helps in removing the human factor. There is no need to deploy humans at night, which is quite risky in itself. This will lead to a reduction in ambushes between the poachers and forest officials.
PETA also uses AI for Animals
People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal protection NGO, is also using AI for its vision. It has been using AI to bring light to the cruelties towards animals by various organizations and create awareness among the masses.
It is also using this leading technology for the promotion of vegan eating and lifestyle. It has been enthusiastically working with Simcology to replace animal testing with virtual animal testing software for pharmacology teachings.
“Through AI, a realistic and accurate portrayal of the abuse and suffering animals endure is crucial, especially as many people remain unaware of these harsh realities. It’s a powerful tool for exposing the harsh realities of animal abuse, creating striking visuals and digital content that compel people to go vegan,” said a spokesperson for PETA India.
Conclusion
Tiger conservation in India requires a multi-pronged approach where not just the police and forest officials, but even civil society, need to work together to create a zero-tolerance policy against animal poaching. With AI, we can win this battle against poachers and ensure that William Blake’s fabled majestic beast continues to roam the jungles for the next thousand years.
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