An advanced surveillance mechanism will be set up by Rajasthan Government to monitor and conserve the endangered wild animals specially tigers and leopards.

Hi-tech mechanism comprising drones, thermal-imaging cameras, high-resolution optical and data centres and radio sets will be installed by information technology (IT) department by March 2018. It has requested Rs 50 crore for floating tenders and commissioning wildlife surveillance (WS) as well as anti-poaching systems (APS).

The WS and APS project has been planned to ensure conservation of tigers and other wild animals. It will enhance the efficiency of forest officials and identify areas prone to poaching and other wildlife crimes. It will also keep a check on infiltration, poaching and illegal mining; and provide fact-based information for effective decision-making.

A number of wildlife offences – including poaching, human encroachment and smuggling of contraband items – have been reported from Rajasthan in the last decade. Many incidents of the kind have also gone unreported due to a rise in poachers and lack of resources to monitor large forested areas.

Wild animals are active at night, when visibility is poor. In such circumstances, the use of thermal-imaging cameras will help. Forty-metre-high static towers, equipped with a mix of thermal, optical and dome cameras, will be installed.

The feed will be recorded at a modular containerised control room, and then sent to the data centre at the headquarters. Drones will  also be used as and when needed, in case of fire and natural calamities.

The local control room will be linked to every camera under the new wildlife conservation mechanism, so wildlife movement patterns can be evaluated.