The Jharkhand Forest Department has initiated active field testing of an indigenous, low-cost artificial intelligence device designed to counter chronic human-elephant conflicts across the region. Supported by the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden, Ravi Ranjan, the department allocated ₹1 lakh for the manufacturing of ten operational prototype units. These devices are currently undergoing field trials at the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), with plans to launch a secondary pilot project in the Ranchi district by August if the trial results meet performance metrics.
The solar-powered apparatus, named “Innobox,” was developed by 18-year-old Ranchi resident Avi Mohan Kumar Shuklaa following field research conducted through an IIM Ranchi youth program. Engineered specifically to bypass the battery-draining false alarms typical of standard motion-sensor repellers, the device relies on an integrated network of radar, seismic sensors, and a specialized AI camera. Explaining the system’s operational framework, Shuklaa stated, “The device, ‘Innobox’, is a solar-powered AI wildlife deterrent device using seismic sensors, radar, and an AI camera to detect and deter elephants and other animals from farmland, with over 80–85 per cent species detection accuracy.”
Developing cost-efficient early warning infrastructure remains critical for the state, where official data notes 474 elephant-related fatalities since the 2019–20 financial year. The Forest Department plans to integrate this technology into a comprehensive three-layer defense framework alongside infrared and thermal imaging cameras.
