e-Eye (electronic-Eye) will soon keep a tab on poachers in the Marayur and Kanthallur ranges of the Marayur sandalwood division.
This is for the first time that the e-eye system, modelled on the one at the Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, where it has been found highly successful in preventing man-tiger conflict and poaching of tigers, is being introduced in the State.
The high-resolution thermal and infrared cameras set up on towers as part of the system will capture images of moving objects weighing over 20 kg at a distance of 3 to 5 km. If any object crosses the marked boundary, it sends alerts to the control room and to the central office. The advantage is that it can capture thermal and normal images of the moving objects, irrespective of the forest density and inclement weather conditions. It can monitor the area 24 hours. It helps prevent infiltration, especially in unprotected areas. The e-Eye also sends alerts when a wild animal moves outside the forest. It can help in protecting people from attacks by wild animals in areas constantly raided by them.
It is as part of using modern technology in forest protection that e-Eye is being introduced, R. Shivaprasad, Marayur Divisional Forest Officer, told The Hindu on Wednesday. He said there was a considerable fall in smuggling of sandalwood from the division and an average of 30 to 50 trees were lost to smugglers a year. The e-Eye system would cost around Rs.1.5 crore, he said.
The Marayur sandalwood division has successfully introduced a dog squad to prevent sandalwood smuggling. Still, smuggling is being reported from unprotected areas. The e-Eye system would soon monitor the unprotected areas too, he said.
System sends alerts to control room
e-Eye system to cost around Rs.1.5 crore
High-resolution cameras capture thermal and normal images of moving objects
