Deep inside the forests of Maharashtra, something new is stirring. Not just the rustle of leaves or the silent footfall of a leopard, but the hum of technology quietly watching it all. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Maharashtra government has introduced an AI-powered surveillance network designed to monitor and alert against wild predator movement. This advanced setup is being implemented in areas known for frequent man-animal conflicts including Tadoba, Navegaon, and Pench.
The shift comes after a disturbing rise in fatal encounters between villagers and big cats. In several cases, victims were attacked near the edges of forests, often in broad daylight. The public anger that followed these tragedies turned into a loud demand for change. The government’s response has been swift and data-driven. Close to 900 AI-enabled cameras will now form a digital shield across the conflict zones, tracking wildlife in real time and warning people before danger gets too close.
This system is run through a state initiative called Marvel, developed in collaboration with IIM Nagpur and a private tech firm. The AI cameras are programmed to recognize the movement of tigers, leopards, and other predators and instantly send alerts to villagers through mobile notifications and loudspeaker systems. In regions like Tadoba, this has taken the shape of what officials describe as an ‘AI wall’ that creates a digital perimeter of awareness.
Minister Ashish Jaiswal, who has been leading the ground coordination, explained that this new model is about coexistence. While earlier efforts focused on saving wildlife, there is now an equal focus on saving human lives. As the predator population increases in many protected areas, the lines between jungle and farmland have started to blur. The new AI network aims to clearly define those lines through vigilance and timely alerts.
The project is being led by IPS officer Harssh Poddar and is more than just surveillance. It represents a shift in how the government views man-animal conflict, not as an occasional crisis but as a preventable pattern that can be disrupted with the right tools. With each alert that goes out before a predator gets too close, a life could be saved.
The larger plan does not stop with cameras. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is exploring a land-leasing policy where farmers can give up buffer-zone land to the government in exchange for steady income. This removes the need for people to cultivate dangerous terrain and instead turns those zones into wildlife corridors, reducing the chance of encounters altogether.
Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, along with Jaiswal and Bawankule, has been part of continuous meetings in Mumbai to integrate policy with technology and land use strategy. The goal is not just to respond to attacks but to make sure they do not happen in the first place.
Maharashtra’s initiative could become a model for other regions facing similar issues. It blends technology with tradition, science with survival. By replacing fear with foresight, the state is showing how modern tools can protect both the forest and the families who live beside it.
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