Pench Tiger Reserve’s AI watchdog helps nab intruder

BHOPAL: An artificial intelligence-powered surveillance system operating in the core area of the Pench Tiger Reserve in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh enabled forest authorities to apprehend a villager allegedly engaged in illegal fishing within a prohibited zone.The incident occurred on May 26 at Naharjhir Talab in Compartment No. 1421 under Beat Naharjhir of the Gumtara Range, a protected core area where entry is strictly prohibited without prior authorization.The offence was identified through the Pench Advance Warning System (PAWS), an AI-enabled camera network deployed for tiger monitoring and the detection of unlawful activities. The system issued a real-time alert upon detecting unauthorized human movement.Forest personnel arrived at the location and apprehended Feli Verma, son of Lakhan Verma and a resident of Titri village in Chhindwara district, for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing within the reserve. Another person reportedly fled the scene, and efforts are underway to locate and identify the person.Officials stated that Verma was presented before a court in Chhindwara and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.Forest authorities described the incident as a significant success for the PAWS system, noting that it substantially reduced response time in comparison to conventional patrolling methods. They emphasized that the technology enhances wildlife protection by facilitating the rapid transmission of information from remote forest regions.Officials further stated that the reserve’s core areas remain under continuous surveillance to deter poaching and unauthorized access. They cautioned that unlawful entry poses a threat to wildlife and may also endanger individuals due to tiger movement within the region.Despite awareness initiatives such as Bagh Chaupal and repeated public announcements in nearby villages, officials observed that locals continued to enter protected areas unlawfully.Reserve authorities urged local residents to cooperate with conservation efforts and warned that stringent action would be taken against those found violating regulations in protected core zones.