Implementation strategy and performance analysis of a novel ground vibration-based elephant deterrent system

The establishment of human habitations, expansion of cultivation lands, and constant degradation of forest areas have intensified human-elephant negative interactions over the years in the Anaikatti area located at Coimbatore and Periyanaickenpalayam forest range in southern India. A few nature parks have been established in this interaction-prone area and are also affected by frequent elephant presence. To safeguard one such park, Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park, from elephant and other wildlife intrusions, 13 units of a ground vibration-based ‘elephant deterrent system’ have been installed along its periphery. The system is a field-deployable version of our ground vibration-based ‘elephant early warning system’, designed to deter elephants using sound units upon detection. It analyzes the frequency of footstep vibrations to initially differentiate between elephant and non-elephant footsteps. The cumulative vibration data from sensors is then used to identify elephants more precisely. Furthermore, for certain system units, the system’s algorithm has been adjusted via on-the-fly software updates to detect all animal footstep vibrations, activating deterrent sound effects tailored to the specific requirements of the current application. Insights from location surveys and discussions with local residents have contributed to the development of innovative implementation strategies and the careful selection of installation sites, which are detailed in this paper. The paper also outlines the system’s installation layout, case-specific algorithms, and hardware architecture. Performance was monitored over an eight-month period, with the results analyzed alongside feedback from field observations. Notably, the system trial phase showed a reduction in elephant intrusions within the park. This report is the first detailed account of a trial field performance, making it a valuable reference for replicating similar solutions in other conflict locations.