How AI Is Helping Save Elephants & Leopards From Train Collisions in Uttarakhand

By Raajwrita Dutta 11 July 2025

An AI‑driven intrusion detection system will be piloted along the 15 km Motichur–Raiwala railway stretch in Dehradun to prevent wildlife collisions.

Five high‑risk animal crossing zones have been mapped for sensor deployment following detailed assessments of past train‑animal incidents.

The system uses fibre‑optic cables with Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to pick up vibrations from animals, track damage, digging, or train movement.

Real‑time alerts go to loco pilots, station masters, and forest staff, triggering alarm hooters and audio‑video signals to avert collisions.

The project targets wildlife safety in the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, where elephants and leopards frequently cross and face risks from trains.

Since Uttarakhand’s formation, at least 12 elephants have been struck by trains on this route, underlining the urgency of this initiative.

Similar DAS‑based wildlife protection systems have been trialled in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha with positive outcomes.

Globally, DAS systems on railways monitor hazards such as rockfalls, fractures, and trespassers by using fibre infrastructure as sensors.

The pilot test run on the Dehradun stretch is scheduled to begin this week, pending final clearance from the chief wildlife warden.