In a bold stride blending conservation and community safety, the Madhya Pradesh government
has rolled out an AI-driven warning system in the buffer zones of Tadoba–Andhari Tiger
Reserve (TATR). By empowering villagers with real-time alerts, aiming to prevent fatal tiger
and leopard encounters, this initiative marks a critical shift toward smart wildlife
conflict management.
What’s Happening: Conservation at a Glance
AI Cameras & ‘Virtual Wall’ Deployment
Over 76 AI‑enabled cameras installed since 2023 across 16 buffer villages, forming a
“Virtual Wall” that detects predator movements.
Plans underway for 3,145–3,150 cameras across four tiger zones; Tadoba, Pench,
Navegaon, and Nagpur, for completion by December 2025.
How It Works?
Cameras equipped with visual, thermal & acoustic sensors detect animals like tigers,
leopards, and sloth bears.
AI models analyze data in real-time, triggering sirens, loudspeakers, SMS/app alerts
for villagers and forest patrol teams.
Effectiveness & Impact
The Virtual Wall generated 9,267 alerts between mid‑2023 and June 2025, helping
reduce human–wildlife incidents; from 8 deaths (2019–23) to just 1 fatality
post-installation.
Pilot Alarm systems in 20 villages have helped prevent fatal tiger attacks, with all
villages reporting zero casualties since deployment.
Support Systems
Villagers receive protective masks and bamboo sticks, while last‑mile response teams
of forest officials and locals are trained for emergencies.
Maharashtra’s MARVEL initiative (2024), in partnership with IIM‑Nagpur and private
tech firms, is managing the roll-out.
AI Officer & Future Expansion
TATR has introduced a dedicated AI officer for data curation, predictive modelling
(wildlife movement, forest fires), and resource optimization.
Plans include expanding the AI Wall model to other districts (e.g., Pauni in
Bhandara).
Why It Matters?
Conservation and Coexistence
Maharashtra houses over 100–200 tigers in reserves like Tadoba and Pench.
Increased tiger populations and diminishing forests have escalated human-animal
friction, necessitating innovative, tech-backed solutions.
Community Safety First
23 human fatalities in Chandrapur district in 2025 spotlighted the urgent need for
proactive safety measures.
Real-time alerts and hooters encourage villagers to steer clear of danger zones,
especially between 7 pm and 7 am.
Scalable, Intelligent Intervention
The AI system leverages edge computing for faster alerts with cloud backup for
analytics.
Success metrics, reduction in fatalities and near-miss alerts underscore its
potential to serve as a national model.
Insightful Synopsis?
Behind the Tech: The Virtual Wall
A robust network of 76+ AI‑enabled cameras in the buffer zones communicates detections via sirens and village-wide alerts, real-time and risk-aware.
Ripple Effects: Safety & Conservation
Highlighting 9,267 alerts with drastically reduced human casualties, this system ensures tigers avoid conflict, not villages.
MARVEL’s Role & Strategic Scaling
MARVEL, set up in 2024, is spearheading the expansion across 3,150 cameras by year-end and embedding AI officers for data-backed strategy planning.
Holistic Response System
From masks to bamboo sticks, local emergency teams, and app notifications, the system prepares villages to proactively respond, not just react.
Conclusion: Where Tech Meets Conservation
Maharashtra’s AI-powered Tiger Alert System in Tadoba is reshaping human-wildlife relations. By fusing real-time tech alerts, larger surveillance networks, and community empowerment, it steers both villagers and wildlife toward safer coexistence. As the model spreads to more villages in Maharashtra and beyond, there's strong promise for India to become a global leader in smart wildlife conflict prevention.
