In a significant breakthrough against wildlife crime, the Odisha Forest Department arrested 39 poachers inside the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district after they were detected by Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled surveillance cameras.
According to official sources, the accused were spotted in the South Division of the sanctuary through AI-powered cameras installed for real-time forest monitoring. The advanced surveillance system captured their movements and provided precise location details along with accurate timestamps. This enabled authorities to respond swiftly and strategically.
Acting on the AI-generated alert, personnel from the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) and forest department launched a coordinated raid inside the sanctuary. The operation resulted in the arrest of all 39 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal hunting activities.
During the crackdown, officials seized a significant cache of weapons and explosives from the accused. The recovered items included nine country-made firearms, 20 bows, a large quantity of explosives, and other hunting tools allegedly intended for poaching.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the arrested individuals are residents of areas under Udala police station limits near the sanctuary. Authorities stated that the timely and accurate inputs from the AI surveillance system played a crucial role in preventing what appeared to be a major poaching attemp
