Guwahati, Sept. 8 -- Cameras and artificial intelligence are being trained to keep a round-the-clock watch on Mithun (Bos frontalis), the iconic "Cattle of the Hills", in a research effort that could change how the animals are monitored, bred and cared for.

Researchers at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun have developed an AI-powered system that can detect and track Mithun behaviour in real time without disturbing the animals.

The system uses 12 high-definition CCTV cameras installed across two sheds at the ICAR-NRC on Mithun farm. With infrared coverage, the cameras monitor the animals day and night.

Researchers trained the system using 3,000 manually annotated images covering four behaviours-feeding, standing, lying and mou...