On Global Tiger Day, Sundarbans fishing boats get GPS device for real-time distress SOS

KOLKATA: On the occasion of Global Tiger Day on Tuesday, at least five fishermen's boats in the Sundarbans will get a GPS-based SOS alarm system that will transmit real-time distress signals to forest department in case of emergencies such as tiger attacks.

The system will also help foresters in tracking boats in case they enter areas where fishing is banned. It is a pilot project by Wildlife Trust of India, Bengal forest dept and Lokamata Rani Rashmoni Mission under Sundarbans Tiger Project. It will be launched on an experimental basis in the Kultali block under South 24 Parganas forest division now, said Dr Abhishek Ghoshal, manager and head, human-wildlife conflict mitigation at WTI. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve director Nilanjan Mullick said it was a welcome move.

"With the press of a single button, the device will generate an alert to Bengal forest dept and WTI, enabling emergency rescue operations through a speed boat. The speed boat is equipped with trained medical personnel, essential first-aid kit and life-saving medical supplies," said Ghoshal.According to Mullick, the GPS-powered system will also help them identify boats if they enter prohibited zones.

In 2024, at least seven cases of tiger attacks were reported from various parts of the forest when fishermen entered the mangroves on fishing trips. Some of the attacks, though, took place inside prohibited zones. "We will install the devices on boats that have BLCs (boat licence certificate). BLC holders are individuals who possess permits to operate fishing boats within designated zones inside the forest," said a source.

"WTI's dual initiative of GPS-enabled alarm system and speed-boat based community support, combining technology, rapid medical response, and inter-agency collaboration, strengthens our ability to protect both people and wildlife," said Nisha Goswami, divisional forest officer, South 24 Parganas division.Under a similar project, camera traps, which have hitherto been used to estimate tiger numbers, will detect their presence and send real-time alerts to foresters to check man-animal conflict.

The AI-powered cameras are likely to be provided by WTI in about two months once the monsoon is over. "Initially, we have plans to start a pilot project with 10 cameras that can be installed along nylon nets at vulnerable locations. These cameras will transmit live feeds with images to concerned officials on their mobiles whenever there is tiger movement near villages," Ghoshal had earlier told TOI. The project is supported by German Cooperation, KFW Development Bank and IUCN.