Latest news with #PrabhuNathShukla
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Tadoba mulling cycle trail for tourists
Nagpur: Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is exploring the feasibility of starting a cycle trail, along the periphery buffer area where villages abound, as an option for activities in which tourists can indulge. Although private resorts provide cycles for their guests, there is no official 'cycle trail' in Tadoba. Prabhu Nath Shukla, field director of TATR, said, "It's at the planning stage as we not only have to map out the cycle trail route but also factor in what support the tourist has there. Suppose a tyre gets punctured en route, then what support system can be provided." The trail will have GPS tagging of all villages and facilities available there. If the plan is approved and implemented, then TATR will gain another attraction for tourists to partake in. This trail might be a long winding one, as well as a shorter option for those who do not wish to stretch things too far. So far, there is a plan to offer a 'guide' service as all will be on cycles. This is the reason why the trail has to be mapped out through proper roads passing through villages. TATR is pushing ahead with multiple reforms to offer a plethora of choices to tourists. TOI reported their plans to hire an Artificial Intelligence (AI) officer who will use data to help with better management of the forest. The forest department is also on the lookout for an 'official partner' who will design customised experiences for tourists and market them globally. This will help TATR to not just be a 'tiger sighting' destination, but rather evolve as a place where wildlife as a whole can be experienced through different layers. One part is the rich biodiversity of the forest, which houses flora and fauna that TATR also wants tourists to see and appreciate. The other part is the culture of tribal communities that dot villages around TATR. The rich heritage that the rural population carries is also something that tourists may get to see up close, as TATR formulates a 360-degree tourism strategy.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tadoba on alert as wild tuskers from Gadchiroli near core area
Nagpur: The forest department is closely monitoring two wild tuskers that entered the buffer zone of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) from Gadchiroli district on Friday. The elephants have since been moving along the periphery of the core area, prompting a heightened state of vigilance. TATR field director Prabhu Nath Shukla confirmed that the elephants crossed the Huma River and entered Kukadheti village in the buffer zone. "We are tracking their movement closely. As of Saturday evening, they have not entered the core area," Shukla told TOI. According to TATR officials, the elephants passed through forest compartments 808, 270A, and 270B, and were later spotted at Naleshwar Talav. By nightfall, their tracks suggested movement toward compartment 319, close to the core zone. The forest department has activated local Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and Protection Response Teams (PRTs) to assist in monitoring and awareness efforts. Villagers are being advised to avoid solitary movements in forested areas and to remain indoors during night hours. Personnel from nearby forest ranges, along with rescue teams and the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), have been deployed. They are using night vision devices, infrared drones, and elephant deterrents to ensure safety and to track the tuskers' route. Staff have also been stationed at elevated observation points for better visibility. Officials have urged the public not to panic or believe in rumours. Any sightings or concerns should be reported directly to the forest department.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In a first, TATR to have AI officer to collate data, chalk out response plan
1 2 3 Nagpur: In a first, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) will get an " Artificial Intelligence officer " to help analyze data to both predict trends and optimize administrative efficiency. TATR is already using AI tools to get inputs about tiger movements near human habitat, but now there will be a dedicated AI officer to collate the deluge of data which streams into TATR and make it "usable". TATR field director Prabhu Nath Shukla said, "There is a lot of data which we collect, be it on tiger movement, or forest fires or ecological balance. But in the end, it's just data, hence there is a need to convert it into reports which will help us predict certain trends and adapt our response to events in a more efficient way." Shukla, who is known to be a "hands-on" official, said technology has to be used to optimize the forest department's resources. The TATR AI officer, who will be hired on contractual basis, will oversee Al-driven wildlife monitoring, ecological data analysis, and predictive modelling for habitat management. Department wants the AI officer to optimize the existing automated surveillance and support research with AI-powered analytics. Shukla said, "We have a system in place where messages are sent to mobile phone users if tiger movement is observed by cameras in their vicinity." This was also referred to as "AI Wall", wherein cameras detect movement, recognize the animal, and send an alert if it's a predator. Shukla said, "We want to take it forward in such a way that technology helps us offer faster and better responses. Even in case of forest fires, we want AI to help us predict and optimize our response." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Egypt (Take A Look At The Prices) Container House Search Now Undo The AI officer will be bolstered by support from a "GIS data manager", who will analyse spatial data and monitor wildlife landscape changes. Another responsibility of the GIS data manager will be to create detailed maps and visualizations to support decision making and conservation strategies. BOX Tadoba Gets AI Boost: Tech Joins the Tiger Patrol * AI officer to be hired on contract to streamline data into actionable conservation strategies * Predictive modelling to aid in forest fire response, wildlife movement, and habitat management * AI Wall system alerts locals when predator movement is detected near human zones * GIS data manager to map spatial changes, track landscape shifts, and aid visual analysis * Focus on tech synergy to optimize forest department's resources and enhance real-time monitoring Nagpur: In a first, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) will get an "Artificial Intelligence officer" to help analyze data to both predict trends and optimize administrative efficiency. TATR is already using AI tools to get inputs about tiger movements near human habitat, but now there will be a dedicated AI officer to collate the deluge of data which streams into TATR and make it "usable". TATR field director Prabhu Nath Shukla said, "There is a lot of data which we collect, be it on tiger movement, or forest fires or ecological balance. But in the end, it's just data, hence there is a need to convert it into reports which will help us predict certain trends and adapt our response to events in a more efficient way." Shukla, who is known to be a "hands-on" official, said technology has to be used to optimize the forest department's resources. The TATR AI officer, who will be hired on contractual basis, will oversee Al-driven wildlife monitoring, ecological data analysis, and predictive modelling for habitat management. Department wants the AI officer to optimize the existing automated surveillance and support research with AI-powered analytics. Shukla said, "We have a system in place where messages are sent to mobile phone users if tiger movement is observed by cameras in their vicinity." This was also referred to as "AI Wall", wherein cameras detect movement, recognize the animal, and send an alert if it's a predator. Shukla said, "We want to take it forward in such a way that technology helps us offer faster and better responses. Even in case of forest fires, we want AI to help us predict and optimize our response." The AI officer will be bolstered by support from a "GIS data manager", who will analyse spatial data and monitor wildlife landscape changes. Another responsibility of the GIS data manager will be to create detailed maps and visualizations to support decision making and conservation strategies. BOX Tadoba Gets AI Boost: Tech Joins the Tiger Patrol * AI officer to be hired on contract to streamline data into actionable conservation strategies * Predictive modelling to aid in forest fire response, wildlife movement, and habitat management * AI Wall system alerts locals when predator movement is detected near human zones * GIS data manager to map spatial changes, track landscape shifts, and aid visual analysis * Focus on tech synergy to optimize forest department's resources and enhance real-time monitoring
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Miami Herald
30-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
592 wildlife cameras running for 31 days make first-of-its-kind sighting in India
In central India, 592 camera traps running 24 hours a day for 31 consecutive days caught a single but exciting glimpse of an elusive species never before seen in that part of the country. Researchers said that in 2018 alone, they had 15,291 chances to spot the small species using camera traps, but it never revealed itself. Just after 2 a.m. on Feb. 7, a leopard cat was spotted in Pench Tiger Reserve in the Nagpur District of Maharashtra, according to an April 26 study published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. Leopard cats — Prionailurus bengalensis — are found throughout southern and eastern Asia, researchers said, and are about the size of a house cat, but with longer legs. They occupy a wide range of habitats, including 'tropical dipterocarp, evergreen, temperate broadleaf, and coniferous forests,' as well as shrublands and grasslands, according to the study. While the species is listed as 'Least Concern' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, it is afforded the highest level of protection in India, where it is often found in protected areas, according to the study. The sighting 'significantly' expands the known range of the species, researchers said. It also challenges some research that suggests leopard cats are unlikely to be found in areas where temperatures exceed 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, as temperatures in Pench can reach 113 degrees in the summer, according to the study. Researchers said 'extensive studies' are needed to devise a conservation strategy for the leopard cat. The research team included Prabhu Nath Shukla, Bilal Habib, Virendra Kumar Mishra, Sumedh Lomesh Bobade, Eshaan Chaitanya Rao and Kanishka.
