In the fast-developing Terai region that lies at the intersection of the Indo-Nepal international boundary, lies a linear tract of pristine wildlife habitat that is home to tigers, leopards, Asian elephants, and one-horned rhinoceros. Through a combination of ecological connectivity research and outreach activities, our project aims to foster partnerships across conservation and infrastructure development agencies for long-term, sustainable, and conservation-conscious infrastructure planning.

With effective use of AI-based sensor camera technology - patented in the name ‘e-eye’, forest staff are proactively detecting the presence of wildlife near railway tracks and sharing this information with frontline railway staff in the real-time to prevent Train-Elephant Collisions. Tamil Nadu Forest Department who initiated this innovation is highly motivated in using this technology for reducing Wildlife-Vehicle Collision (WVC) along with minimizing Human-Wildlife Conflicts (HWC) in conflict prone areas. 

What appeared to be an environmental disaster became a major achievement when community groups convinced a multinational road operator that a planned motorway upgrade offered an opportunity for reconnecting a severed landscape, with international recognition as one of the rewards.

The spectacular overpass over the I-90 in the Cascade Mountains near Seattle is one of the US’s most celebrated wildlife crossing structures. But it started with equally spectacular conflicts. How seemingly impossible differences were overcome provides hope and a way forward for similar projects.