Haldwani, March 15 -- The Haldwani Forest Division has begun installing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based smart solar-powered wildlife detection cameras in sensitive areas in the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary to curb human-widlife conflict, officials said on Saturday. Divisional forest officer (DFO) Kundan Kumar said several villages located around the sanctuary frequently witness the movement of elephants and other wild animals, which increases the risk of encounters between humans and wildlife as well as damage to crops and property. "Considering these challenges, the forest department has decided to introduce a modern technology-based early warning system that will alert villagers and forest officials about wildlife movement in real time," Kumar said. Kumar said the AI-based smart cameras will be equipped with an advanced wildlife detection system capable of identifying large animals, particularly elephants and leopards. Once the system detects the presence of a wild animal, it will immediately trigger a high-capacity siren installed nearby to alert residents and discourage the animal from entering settlements, he said, adding that the cameras will also be equipped with night-vision....