Virtual Fence Project in India is a conceptual project, which envisages use of surveillance technology and Information Technology for creating a ‘Virtual Fence’ to prevent wild animals from straying into human habitation. The technology may be used to monitor poaching and illegal activities. It is also aimed to protect both man and wild animals.
The project comprises three key components: the Virtual Fence (VF), Trail surveillance (TS) and Forest Patch Monitoring (FPM). VF component envisages a system wherein animals straying out are driven back to their habitat. TS and FPM components intend to track the movement of animals and alert any illegal activity taking place in the area respectively. The system is expected to help save lives of animals which may stray on to highways and rail tracks and get killed by speeding vehicles. The technology uses sensors that track the movement of animals by detecting sounds or using thermal energy.
If this project succeeds, it would assist in confining wild animals within their boundaries, saving them as well as mitigating threat to livestock and crops, reducing man-animal conflict.
Other Potential Solutions to mitigate Man-Animal Conflict are:
· Creation of appropriate animal barriers (solar, barbed wire and chain link fencing, trenches, walls etc.)
· Capture of problematic animals.
· Establishment of ‘Rapid Response Teams’ to deal with such conflicts.
· Adoption of wildlife friendly cropping patterns.
· In extreme situations, the potion could be the ‘lethal control’ of rogue animals. Section 11 or the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 already provides for the same.
· Adequate and timely dispensation of compensation to the victims.
· Long term studies on the human-animal conflict need to be carried out.
· Education of local people on dealing with man-animal conflicts.
The project comprises three key components: the Virtual Fence (VF), Trail surveillance (TS) and Forest Patch Monitoring (FPM). VF component envisages a system wherein animals straying out are driven back to their habitat. TS and FPM components intend to track the movement of animals and alert any illegal activity taking place in the area respectively. The system is expected to help save lives of animals which may stray on to highways and rail tracks and get killed by speeding vehicles. The technology uses sensors that track the movement of animals by detecting sounds or using thermal energy.
If this project succeeds, it would assist in confining wild animals within their boundaries, saving them as well as mitigating threat to livestock and crops, reducing man-animal conflict.
Other Potential Solutions to mitigate Man-Animal Conflict are:
· Creation of appropriate animal barriers (solar, barbed wire and chain link fencing, trenches, walls etc.)
· Capture of problematic animals.
· Establishment of ‘Rapid Response Teams’ to deal with such conflicts.
· Adoption of wildlife friendly cropping patterns.
· In extreme situations, the potion could be the ‘lethal control’ of rogue animals. Section 11 or the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 already provides for the same.
· Adequate and timely dispensation of compensation to the victims.
· Long term studies on the human-animal conflict need to be carried out.
· Education of local people on dealing with man-animal conflicts.