EleSense: All you need to know about elephant sensors installed along tracks
EleSense: All you need to know about elephant sensors installed along tracks
Shaheryar Hossain, News9Live
January 26, 2023
In a bid to curb the electrocution of elephants and accidental death of
tuskers on railway lines in the country, a US-based Voice for Asian
Elephants Society (in collaboration with the Forest Department and Indian
Railways) has come forward to mitigate the impact of the man-elephant
conflict in the country. In a phased manner, it has started installing
elephant sensors (EleSense) along treacherous rail routes that cut through
the reserve forest to avoid accidents involving elephants. Sangita Iyer,
National Geographic explorer and founder of Voice for Asian Elephants
Society, informed news9live that on January 13, 2023, Solitary Nature and
Animal Production Foundation and Nature Mates- Nature Club, in association
with Jalpaiguri Division of the West Bengal Forest Department and
Alipurduar Division of the North Frontier Railway, installed 40 pairs of
EleSense in a long stretch where elephants frequently move.
“In West Bengal, we have launched the first phase of the project in
Jalpaiguri district where we installed a 4-km fencing surrounding the
farmland and homes in early 2022 with the support of government there,” she
pointed out.
What is EleSense?
EleSense refers to the sensor-based early warning system designed with
siren, light and GPS/GSM modules by local tech experts familiar with the
landscape. The early warning sensor system alerts train drivers of elephant
presence and helps to prevent collisions and deaths on tracks.
Features
EleSense detects elephant presence up to 500 metres and triggers an alarm.
It sends out an SMS to the forest and railway authorities.
The message is transmitted to the loco pilots, giving them enough time to
stop the train.
The alarm system is also resistant to damage from the elements.
“Solitary Nature and Animal Production Foundation is our technical partner.
Voice for Asian Elephants Society is fully funding this EleSense project,”
Iyer said. She reiterated that Voice for Asian Elephants Society is also in
talks with the state government regarding a solution to mitigate the impact
of the man-elephant conflict in Kerala.
Elephant Death Rates in India
According to Indian government data released in July last year, 45
elephants have died in train accidents in the last three years, including
12 in Odisha and 11 in West Bengal.