Innovative technologies facilitate coexistence between humans and elephants
Innovative technologies are fostering a better coexistence between humans and elephants.
TroibNews 
August 12 marks World Elephant Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the significant challenges elephants face and promoting conservation efforts to protect them. Established in 2012, this observance highlights the urgent need for action regarding the species’ survival.
The Asian elephant is classified as endangered by both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). At the start of the 20th century, it is estimated that over 100,000 Asian elephants roamed the planet; however, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that their population has plummeted by at least 50 percent in the last century.
Among the numerous threats to elephants, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict are particularly pressing issues. As the human population expands, the habitats that elephants rely on are becoming increasingly fragmented. This has led to more frequent encounters and conflicts between people and elephants.
In Yunnan Province, China, which boasts one of the richest biodiversities globally, innovative technology is being employed to foster coexistence with elephants. Thanks to ongoing conservation initiatives, the Asian elephant population in the region has seen a steady increase, as has the area they inhabit.
According to the forestry and grassland administration of Yunnan, the number of Asian elephants in the province has risen from 150 in the 1980s to over 300 today. These elephants are primarily located in border areas, including Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Lincang City, and Pu'er City. Since last year, local authorities have reported that nine baby Asian elephants have been born in Pu'er.
While the increase in the Asian elephant population is a significant success, it also brings new challenges for local residents. As elephants expand their territory, they become bolder in seeking food, often venturing into agricultural fields and villages, which raises the likelihood of conflict. Traditional methods to deter elephants, such as installing fences or digging ditches, have proven insufficient.
In response, Yunnan's local administration has developed an intelligent monitoring system to track and provide early warnings about elephant movements. Initially, monitoring relied on a staff of over 100 who would send out alerts via radio broadcasts, SMS, or WeChat whenever they detected elephant tracks. Yang Yong, a senior engineer from the forestry and grassland administration in Pu'er, noted the difficulties inherent in manual monitoring, including the challenges posed by dark and foggy forests and the need to maintain a safe distance from the elephants. This setup could compromise the speed and accuracy of warnings.
Fortunately, advancements in technology have transformed the monitoring process. "Now we use a drone with thermal imaging technology to monitor the elephants. It is more accurate and can make up for the shortage of manual monitoring," Yang explained.
In 2018, a monitoring and warning center was established under the Scientific Research Institute of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Xishuangbanna, another critical habitat for Asian elephants in China. The center utilizes various modern technologies, including fully automatic infrared camera surveillance, drones, a cloud service system, and a smart broadcasting system, to enhance detection and warning capabilities.
When an infrared camera detects Asian elephants, it rapidly transmits images, geographic data, and other relevant information back to the cloud service at the center. After processing this information, an automatic warning is sent out to keep villagers informed of the elephants' location. "It only takes about 12 seconds from detecting the elephant to sending out a warning," said Tan Xujie, director of the center.
Remarkably, Tan noted that "not even one incident of human-elephant conflict has occurred in the areas covered by these systems." To bolster monitoring efforts, approximately 600 infrared cameras have been deployed, complemented by 177 loudspeakers equipped with a smart broadcasting system and a dedicated smartphone application to ensure timely notifications reach local villagers.
These speakers are strategically positioned in over 12 townships and 38 villages, broadcasting clear warning messages. The center also introduced a smartphone app in June 2020, allowing employees to upload elephant sighting information and swiftly issue alerts.
The app and the speaker system are integrated with the center's cloud service, enabling automatic publication of warnings based on confirmed elephant sightings through collected data. Since its launch, the app has sent out more than 100,000 warnings.
Furthermore, in June 2020, the monitoring center began implementing AI technology to identify Asian elephants in images, streamlining the warning process and decreasing manpower requirements. "As the AI processes more samples, it will continue to learn and upgrade itself. So far, it has achieved an accuracy of 96 percent in identifying Asian elephants," Tan stated.
As the largest land mammals, elephants present unique challenges for coexistence. However, innovative monitoring techniques employed in Yunnan offer promising solutions, indicating that with the right blend of technological advancement and creativity, harmonious coexistence with these majestic creatures is conceivable.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Asian elephant is classified as endangered by both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). At the start of the 20th century, it is estimated that over 100,000 Asian elephants roamed the planet; however, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that their population has plummeted by at least 50 percent in the last century.
Among the numerous threats to elephants, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict are particularly pressing issues. As the human population expands, the habitats that elephants rely on are becoming increasingly fragmented. This has led to more frequent encounters and conflicts between people and elephants.
In Yunnan Province, China, which boasts one of the richest biodiversities globally, innovative technology is being employed to foster coexistence with elephants. Thanks to ongoing conservation initiatives, the Asian elephant population in the region has seen a steady increase, as has the area they inhabit.
According to the forestry and grassland administration of Yunnan, the number of Asian elephants in the province has risen from 150 in the 1980s to over 300 today. These elephants are primarily located in border areas, including Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Lincang City, and Pu'er City. Since last year, local authorities have reported that nine baby Asian elephants have been born in Pu'er.
While the increase in the Asian elephant population is a significant success, it also brings new challenges for local residents. As elephants expand their territory, they become bolder in seeking food, often venturing into agricultural fields and villages, which raises the likelihood of conflict. Traditional methods to deter elephants, such as installing fences or digging ditches, have proven insufficient.
In response, Yunnan's local administration has developed an intelligent monitoring system to track and provide early warnings about elephant movements. Initially, monitoring relied on a staff of over 100 who would send out alerts via radio broadcasts, SMS, or WeChat whenever they detected elephant tracks. Yang Yong, a senior engineer from the forestry and grassland administration in Pu'er, noted the difficulties inherent in manual monitoring, including the challenges posed by dark and foggy forests and the need to maintain a safe distance from the elephants. This setup could compromise the speed and accuracy of warnings.
Fortunately, advancements in technology have transformed the monitoring process. "Now we use a drone with thermal imaging technology to monitor the elephants. It is more accurate and can make up for the shortage of manual monitoring," Yang explained.
In 2018, a monitoring and warning center was established under the Scientific Research Institute of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Xishuangbanna, another critical habitat for Asian elephants in China. The center utilizes various modern technologies, including fully automatic infrared camera surveillance, drones, a cloud service system, and a smart broadcasting system, to enhance detection and warning capabilities.
When an infrared camera detects Asian elephants, it rapidly transmits images, geographic data, and other relevant information back to the cloud service at the center. After processing this information, an automatic warning is sent out to keep villagers informed of the elephants' location. "It only takes about 12 seconds from detecting the elephant to sending out a warning," said Tan Xujie, director of the center.
Remarkably, Tan noted that "not even one incident of human-elephant conflict has occurred in the areas covered by these systems." To bolster monitoring efforts, approximately 600 infrared cameras have been deployed, complemented by 177 loudspeakers equipped with a smart broadcasting system and a dedicated smartphone application to ensure timely notifications reach local villagers.
These speakers are strategically positioned in over 12 townships and 38 villages, broadcasting clear warning messages. The center also introduced a smartphone app in June 2020, allowing employees to upload elephant sighting information and swiftly issue alerts.
The app and the speaker system are integrated with the center's cloud service, enabling automatic publication of warnings based on confirmed elephant sightings through collected data. Since its launch, the app has sent out more than 100,000 warnings.
Furthermore, in June 2020, the monitoring center began implementing AI technology to identify Asian elephants in images, streamlining the warning process and decreasing manpower requirements. "As the AI processes more samples, it will continue to learn and upgrade itself. So far, it has achieved an accuracy of 96 percent in identifying Asian elephants," Tan stated.
As the largest land mammals, elephants present unique challenges for coexistence. However, innovative monitoring techniques employed in Yunnan offer promising solutions, indicating that with the right blend of technological advancement and creativity, harmonious coexistence with these majestic creatures is conceivable.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
