Thermal imaging camera at Thadagam becomes operational

The static thermal imaging device installed by Forest Department at Thadagam in Coimbatore has become operational. Officials said that feeds from the thermal imaging camera can now be viewed on a monitor at the control room of the Forest Department.

The camera is installed at Thadagam, as it is one of the areas witnessing frequent straying of wild animals into human habitations.

The feed from the camera is transferred to the control room at the District Forest Office using intranet, a restricted network.

According to S. Ramasubramanian, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, the feed will help check for the presence of wild animals, especially elephants, at night.

Low light conditions

As the camera captures the heat in the body of the animal to provide the images, this works even in low light conditions with poor visibility. The presence of animal is shown in red on the monitor.

“The static camera is fixed at a vantage point and can cover a distance of 8 km. We are currently examining the feeds before fixing the camera at other places. We also plan to use high-end laser beam camera for the early warning network being developed,” said N. Satheesh, District Forest Officer.

The original plan of the Department is to fix static thermal imaging cameras at three more places -- Maruthamalai, Anuvavi and Madukkarai -- that were identified on the basis of frequent movement of elephants.

At Madukkarai, where elephants often cross the railway track, the Department has already installed two surveillance cameras on track 'B' through which trains move to Coimbatore from Palakkad.

Apart from the static thermal imaging cameras, the Department is using two hand-held thermal imaging cameras to detect the animals and push them back into the forests.