‘Ele-fence’ gets ready in Wayanad to keep wildlife at bay

The installation works for the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)- based smart fence project, called ‘Ele-fence’, is underway in Wayanad to mitigate the accelerating human-wildlife conflict in the region. The pilot project is being installed by White Elephant Technologies, a Kochi-based R&D firm with support from the Kerala Forest department at Chelakkolly, near Pambra, in Chethalth forest range of the south Wayanad forest division.

The installation works for the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)- based smart fence project, called ‘Ele-fence’, is underway in Wayanad to mitigate the accelerating human-wildlife conflict in the region.

The pilot project is being installed by White Elephant Technologies, a Kochi-based R&D firm with support from the Kerala Forest department at Chelakkolly, near Pambra, in Chethalth forest range of the south Wayanad forest division.

The proposed 70-metre Ele-fence incorporates an effective blend of real-time monitoring as well as preventive and protective features, said Parrakkal Mohan Menon, CEO, White Elephant Technologies.

The design thinking elements also involved a deep study of elephant behaviour in typical conflict-prone situations, said Mr. Menon.

The fence has been installed with six-inch-wide steel girders, each 17 feet high. The girders are concreted at four feet depth and welded with steel bars under the ground level for strength, he said.

The fence is duly equipped with AI-based logical trip wires, which enable early warning of intrusive elephant movements, he said. There are 4K cameras for real-time video and audio disseminationto control rooms and the Rapid Response Teams of the Forest department.

The fence has sound and alarm lights installed to keep the elephants from approaching the regions around the barrier.