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Maharashtra Expands AI Virtual Wall to 3,150 Cameras Across Tiger Reserve Frontiers

A state deal with MARVEL equips forest fringes with AI sensors that trigger alerts through sirens or an app whenever tigers or other wildlife approach settlements.

Mumbai, India - June 28, 2020: Tigers in Eastern Vidarbha landscape are at a risk. The proposed Chandrapur greenfield airport site corridor, is located in central Chanda, which is 32km from Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, 38km from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) buffer, and next to the proposed Kanhargaon wildlife sanctuary. The proposed airport area has tiger, leopard, and wild prey occupancy. It will be not only disastrous for wild animals, but also dangerous for civil aviation according to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The tiger corridor in eastern Vidarbha is at risk. (Photo by Maharashtra forest department)
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Overview

  • A Tadoba-Andhari pilot has used 76 AI cameras in 16 buffer villages since March 2023 to generate 9,267 wildlife alerts and reduce human deaths from eight to one.
  • A July 2025 MoU between the Maharashtra Forest Department and MARVEL will expand the network to 3,150 cameras around Pench, Tadoba-Andhari, Navegaon-Nagzira and Nagpur forest areas.
  • The system uses high-resolution visual, thermal and acoustic sensors to identify tigers, leopards and sloth bears through direct sightings or herbivore alarm calls.
  • Alerts are sent in seconds through a dedicated app, SMS, Telegram and village sirens to notify authorities and residents of approaching wildlife.
  • On-track installation is slated for completion by December 2025 and will be followed by training programs and planned integration of drone surveillance and advanced analytics.