India’s rich biodiverse tapestry is home to numerous wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and biosphere reserves. With such a vast array of flora and fauna, managing these natural wonders is no small task. India being at the center of a technological revolution, gives us an edge. In order to amplify the conservation efforts, the governments are increasingly employing cutting-edge geospatial technologies.
Take for instance, the UNESCO’s world heritage site, Kaziranga National Park which is known for its one-horned rhinoceros population. Along with the iconic rhinoceros, the park is home to Indian elephants, wild buffalo, tigers, and swamp deer. It was also declared as a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park is popular for increasing the population of its animals through its wildlife conservation initiatives and activities. With its vast topography and dense forests, traditional methods of monitoring poaching activities, elephant corridors, plantations, animal rescue operations were often limited in scope and efficiency.
With rapidly evolving technology landscapes and India emerging as a hub for innovation, the integration of technology into the conservation efforts is not only natural but also a necessary progression. Recognizing the need for advancing the conservation tools, the Assam government has taken a pioneering step by integrating drone technology into its wildlife management efforts.
Assam government taking the lead in adoption of technology
Assam is among the leading states to adopt the application of drones for forest management. As a part of the larger Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC), this initiative is aimed at enhancing the conservation efforts in preserving the state’s rich natural heritage while addressing the growing challenges of wildlife management.
It was the first-time implementation move to revolutionize conservation and maintenance of the flora and fauna. The goal was to deploy drones for various conservation activities, including monitoring the health of plantations, conducting wildlife surveillance, tracking stray animals, detecting encroachments, and assessing forest resources.
A Flight into the Future through Innovative Application
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as game-changing tools in wildlife conservation and anti-poaching efforts, revolutionizing the way we protect and safeguard our planet’s endangered flora and fauna. These devices can provide real-time data on wildlife movements, monitor the health of forests, track illegal activities, and even assist in rescue operations.
Equipped with high resolution cameras and other significant sensors, drones cover vast areas of remote and inaccessible terrain, collecting data on wildlife population, their habitat, and the potential threats. This helps track migration patterns, and identify indicators of poaching. Combining advanced technologies with human expertise brings innovative solutions that turn the tide in battle against challenges in conserving the wildlife.
Using drones in forest management is efficient, accurate, and a cost-effective way to monitor forest activities, and helps in protecting wildlife and preventing deforestation. They help reducing the complexities in managing the forest cover. It reduces the reliance on human manpower and increases the efficiency through data collection, improved accuracy, tracking the movement of animals and resulting in quick response to forest management situations.
How they did it?
The government of Assam, with the support of RMSI, embarked on a mission to leverage cutting-edge technology to protect its forests and wildlife more effectively. With drones have emerging as invaluable tools in gathering valuable data to generate reports on the surveillance, health of the forest and wildlife, Assam government was keen to explore drone technology for its park conservation.
To determine the most suitable drone and payload combinations for these tasks, a proof of concept (PoC) was conducted. This involved rigorous testing of various drones and their associated technologies. The drones were equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, including RGB cameras, thermal imaging, and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors. Each drone was evaluated on its ability to perform specific tasks, such as capturing high-resolution images, providing real-time video feeds, and operating in challenging environments like dense forests and flood-prone areas.
The PoC phase was crucial in identifying the strengths and limitations of different drone models. For example, some drones were better suited for monitoring large areas of forest, while others excelled in close-up surveillance of wildlife. The team also tested different types of payloads to see which combinations worked best for the identified use cases. The data collected during the PoC phase provided valuable insights that helped in selecting the most appropriate drones and payloads for the full-scale implementation of the project.
Identifying the Right Conservation Fit
While the use of drones in wildlife conservation offers many benefits, it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the primary hurdles was the thick canopy of the dense forest cover, which can interfere with the drone’s ability to capture clear images and videos, making it difficult to monitor wildlife or assess forest health accurately.
Battery life was another critical challenge, especially during extended wildlife rescue missions. Most commercial drones have a limited battery life, typically ranging from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the model and payload. This limitation can be a significant drawback when tracking wildlife over large areas or during prolonged operations.
To overcome these challenges, RMSI selected drones that were not only equipped with powerful sensors but were also resilient enough to handle the harsh environmental conditions. The team introduced tethered drones, connected to external power sources, allowing them to stay in the air for extended periods—sometimes up to 24 hours. This innovation was particularly crucial during wildlife rescue missions, where the ability to monitor animals in real time was a game-changer.
These high-tech eyes in the sky offer aerial surveillance, allowing for the quick and efficient tracking of wildlife while detecting potential threats like poaching. But that’s not all—drones are also invaluable for monitoring wildlife populations, assessing habitats, and conducting critical conservation research. They can even map fire-affected areas, enabling rapid response actions that protect biodiversity and ensure the safety of our natural parks.
Potentially a New Era of Transformative Conservation
The results of this initiative are set to play a crucial role in the anti-poaching efforts of the government, potentially resolving the human-elephant conflict, and rescuing wildlife in case of floods or forest fires. The drones, equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, will become the park’s vigilant guardians, tirelessly scanning for any signs of illegal activity. This vigilant presence significantly deterred poachers and provided forest officials with crucial data to track and intercept those who still dared to trespass. But the benefits didn’t stop there.
By taking over routine tasks like surveillance and data collection, drones will free up forest rangers to focus on more critical activities, such as patrolling high-risk areas and directing efforts where they were most needed. The drones will also be the key tools in tracking the park’s most iconic species. Whether monitoring the movements of rhinos, tigers, or elephants, the drones provided insights into their behaviors, assessed their habitats, and even aided in rescue operations.
Perhaps one of the most transformative aspects of this project is the ability to monitor the park from a central command center. Forest officials can now oversee vast areas in real-time, allowing them to respond swiftly to any situation that may arise, whether a poaching incident, a wildfire, or a stray animal.
India at the Forefront of Tech-Driven Conservation
As the drones continue their silent vigil over Kaziranga, it’s clear that this is just the beginning. The Assam government’s initiative, supported by RMSI, has set a new standard for conservation efforts not just in India but globally. The integration of drone technology into wildlife management is a powerful reminder that when we embrace innovation, we can find new ways to protect our planet’s most vulnerable species.
In a rapidly changing world, where technology advances at an unprecedented pace, India is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in tech-driven conservation. By merging its rich heritage of biodiversity with the latest technological advancements, the country is paving the way for a future where nature and technology coexist in harmony. Kaziranga’s success story is a testament to what can be achieved when vision, technology, and a commitment to conservation come together.
This project is promising and has a potential of scaling up the forest management’s conservation initiatives. With one time investment and capacity building, this project can be implemented by other forest departments and states for their National Parks.
As the sun sets over Kaziranga, the drones return to their bases, their day’s work done. But the story of how technology is transforming conservation in India is far from over. In fact, it’s only just begun.