How AI Helps One Woman Protect Indias Wild Tigers

For Hrishita Negi, wild tigers are more than just a passion; they're a part of her life story. Growing up in India's Kanha Tiger Reserve, where her father was the field director, she developed a profound connection with these majestic predators. Encounters that would be once-in-a-lifetime for most were regular occurrences for her.

“Seeing a wild tiger is unmatched,” Negi says. “When a tiger walks by, you forget everything you had in your mind. You’re just completely in the moment, looking at this beautiful predator. You almost go into a trance state.”

One of her most vivid memories involves watching a tigress with her kill, only to realize the tigress had stolen it from a leopard hiding in a nearby tree. This unique upbringing set her on a path to dedicate her life to protecting them.

A Journey Fueled by Conservation

After earning degrees in biology in New Delhi, Negi's path took a pivotal turn in 2019. At the Global Tiger Forum, she discovered the Tigers United University Consortium, a Clemson University-led initiative. The program offered Ph.D. scholarships for students committed to tiger conservation. It was a perfect match. She seized the opportunity, transitioning from studying tigers in India to becoming a Clemson Tiger in the United States.

The TrailGuard AI: A Game-Changer in Conservation

At Clemson, Negi and fellow researcher Jeremy Dertien focused on the technology pillar of the Tigers United mission. They developed a groundbreaking AI-powered camera trap system called TrailGuard AI. In 2022, through a partnership between Clemson, the Global Tiger Forum, India's National Tiger Conservation Authority, and the non-profit RESOLVE, the system was deployed in the critical corridor between the Kanha and Pench tiger reserves.

“The Indian government created corridors because tiger ecology cannot contain itself in one area,” Negi explains. These corridors are essential for the large territories tigers require.

The system's genius lies in its efficiency. While standard camera traps capture and store thousands of images, TrailGuard AI uses artificial intelligence to identify and transmit only photos of tigers—or humans. “The forest department staff get the images in less than 30 seconds,” she adds.

This real-time alert system quickly proved its value beyond just tracking tigers. It began capturing images of poachers, leading to their arrests before they could harm any animals. To date, TrailGuard AI has helped apprehend more than 20 poachers.

Beyond Technology: Addressing Human-Wildlife Conflict

India's conservation efforts have been so successful that they've created a new challenge: human-tiger conflict. As tiger populations grow, they are increasingly venturing into communities near the reserves. Greg Yarrow, director of Tigers United, notes that this has become a major focus. “Working with those communities has become a big part of the effort,” he says.

Negi and the team are developing strategies to promote coexistence. They emphasize the deep cultural reverence local communities have for tigers.

“The goal is to raise money to help the villages around the corridor coexist with tigers,” says Negi. One innovative approach involves a partnership with Clemson's College of Business to create a platform for indigenous artists. By empowering these communities economically, they hope to reduce the financial incentive for poaching.

Clemson's Global Impact on Tiger Conservation

Why should someone in South Carolina care about tigers in India? Yarrow points to the surprising parallels. Just as tigers help control crop-damaging wildlife in India, apex predators play a vital role in ecosystems everywhere. He likens the situation to South Carolina's own challenges with deer overpopulation and the efforts to protect bobcats on Kiawah Island.

“You’ve got the same thing in India with tigers,” Yarrow says. “It’s coexistence.”

Clemson's unique partnerships with Indian government entities have positioned it as a global leader in the field. “We have access for conservation work in India that no other university does, and we aim to make the most of it,” Negi states.

A Personal Mission for a Global Cause

Now the associate director of Tigers United, Negi is poised to lead the program into the future. Her plans include enhancing the AI to track individual tigers, expanding the system to other landscapes, and adapting it for other endangered species.

For Negi, this work is the culmination of a lifelong journey. “For me, it’s personal,” she says. “I grew up with an extreme fondness for tigers, and we’re living in a time when biodiversity decline is unprecedented. What’s needed is to focus on saving key species that play important roles in entire ecosystems, and there’s no better option than the most majestic apex species of them all – the tiger.”