Student Develops AI Tool to Help Detect Poachers
The low-cost system uses thermal drone footage to identify human presence in protected wildlife areas.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Anika Puri designed an artificial intelligence tool named ElSa that uses thermal drone footage to detect humans in wildlife habitats. The system aims to assist rangers by flagging potential poaching activity for review.
Why it matters
The tool provides an affordable alternative to high-cost thermal monitoring equipment, helping to protect vulnerable species. By automating the review of drone footage, it significantly reduces the time rangers spend monitoring vast areas.
The ElSa prototype costs approximately $300 to construct, compared to $4,800 for standard commercial thermal cameras. It functions by analyzing motion, speed, and herd behavior in thermal infrared video.
The players
Anika Puri
She is the developer of the ElSa AI tool and received a $25,000 scholarship as a 2022 Davidson Fellow.
The details
The system utilizes off-the-shelf components to process imagery collected by drones. It is designed to recognize human activity patterns, allowing rangers to intervene before illegal hunting takes place.
Timeline
1986: India prohibited domestic ivory sales.
1989: The international commercial ivory trade was banned under CITES.
1991: India banned all imports of African ivory.
2002-2011: Africa experienced a 62% decline in its forest elephant population.
2018: Anika Puri observed ivory items for sale in Mumbai markets.
The Tech Race
This project highlights a shift toward using low-cost, accessible AI to modernize wildlife conservation efforts. It positions small-scale, affordable innovation against expensive, proprietary legacy systems that have historically limited monitoring capabilities.
The use of this technology provides wildlife rangers with a more efficient way to monitor protected areas. It demonstrates how inexpensive, off-the-shelf components can be repurposed to address complex environmental and security challenges.
The takeaway
Technological advancements are becoming increasingly accessible, allowing individuals to create impactful solutions for global crises. Affordable monitoring tools empower local organizations to protect biodiversity with limited resources.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GG2.
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