The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has introduced an advanced AI system for early forest fire detection.

About AI System 

• High-Tech Camera: The system includes a high-resolution pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera with a 15 km visual range, covering over 350 sq km of the reserve.
  • The PTZ camera is installed on an existing tower located on a high hill (540 meters above sea level) near Kirringisarra village, at the center of Pench.
  • The control room for the system is situated in the West Pench range office in Kolitmara.
• Satellite Integration: Pantera combines live camera footage with information from 15 commercial satellite services (a first-of-its-kind approach).

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Benefits of AI system in Tiger reserve

Faster and More Accurate Alerts: The system can detect fires using a camera and satellites, and tell the difference between smoke and clouds. 

• • This means firefighters will get quicker and more reliable alerts.
• Predicts Future Fires: The system uses weather data and past fire history to predict where fires might happen next. 
  • This helps park rangers prepare firefighting efforts in advance.
• Tracks Firefighting Resources: The system can locate fire trucks and water tanks with GPS, so firefighters can respond faster.
• Weather Data and Forecasting: The system also analyzes temperature, precipitation, and wind data, along with past fire incidents, to forecast potential future fires, aiding in proactive fire control planning.
  • Day and Night Monitoring: The camera has night vision, so fires can be spotted even in the dark.
• Faster Response Times: Pantera, the AI platform, analyzes data from the camera and satellites in real-time, providing fire alerts within 3 minutes. This allows for a quicker response by firefighters.
• Enhanced Resource Management: The system can be integrated with GPS-equipped fire trucks and water tanks, allowing for real-time tracking of these resources. 
  • This facilitates efficient deployment during fire emergencies.
• Improved Forest and Wildlife Protection: With faster detection, accurate alerts, and better resource management, the AI system significantly improves the chances of containing fires early on. 
  • This helps protect vast areas of forest land and the diverse wildlife within the reserve.

Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)

• Geographical Coverage: Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Components: 
  • Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park
  • Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, 
  • A buffer zone.
• Naming: It is  named After Pench River. 
• Climate: Extreme and tropical weather. 
• National Park and Tiger Reserve Status:
  • Declared a National Park by the Government of Maharashtra in 1975.Granted tiger reserve status in 1998-1999.
  • The Madhya Pradesh (PTR)  section received tiger reserve status earlier, in 1992-1993.
    • It is the Part of the major Protected Areas in the Satpura-Maikal ranges of the Central Highlands.
      • Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of India.
• The area of this tiger reserve is recognised as the real life setting for Rudyard Kipling’s famous “The Jungle Book”. 

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Flora and Fauna

• Flora: 
  • Tendu, teak, saag, mahua.
• Fauna: 
  • Gaur, Nilgai, Sambar, Chital, Chousingha, Pintail, Whistling Teal, Vegtel.
  • Birds: It comprises peafowl, magpie robin, pintail, drongo, unia, myna etc.