‘Virtual wall’ planned to prevent wildlife intrusions during Kumbh

Haridwar: Ahead of Kumbh Mela 2027, the Haridwar forest division is planning to install a “virtual wall” in the Shyampur range to prevent wild animals from entering areas where millions of pilgrims are expected to gather.

Shyampur range lies in the buffer zone between Rajaji Tiger Reserve and Haridwar residential areas, and is considered a sensitive corridor for the movement of elephants, leopards and tigers.

Under the Human-Animal Conflict Mitigation System, officials have identified 50 vulnerable locations for the installation of solar-powered smart AI cameras equipped with night vision. The live feed will be monitored from a dedicated control room, from where Field Response Vehicles will be dispatched if any animal movement towards populated areas is detected.

Officials said the proposal has been sent for approval.

Kumbh Mela 2027 will begin in Jan, with nearly 15 crore pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar. Major camps and establishments are likely to come up in the Bairagi Camp, Chandi Bridge region and Neeldhara island, which are close to the Shyampur range.

Haridwar DFO Swapnil Anirudh said wildlife intrusions, particularly by elephants and leopards, remain a major concern. “The new system will help reduce response time and provide real-time locations of animal movement, enabling quicker action,” he told TOI.

Officials said high-frequency sound systems will also be installed with the solar-powered units to deter animals. A modern control room will coordinate field teams through mobile applications and phone connectivity under the real-time supervision of senior officials.

Forest department data showed that 16 elephants died in Haridwar over the last five years, including eight found in the Shyampur range, considered a hotspot for elephant movement.
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