Bhubaneswar: A young technologist from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has come up with an innovative Artificial Intelligence-based system aimed at strengthening forest protection and tackling poaching.

Deb Prasanna Mohanty, a native of Bhanjpur in Baripada, has developed “Deep Ear,” a sound-based AI device that works like a digital surveillance system inside forests. The innovation, for which a patent application has already been filed, uses acoustic intelligence to monitor and analyse sounds in real time.

The system is designed to be deployed at key points across forest areas, where it continuously listens for unusual or suspicious sounds. It can detect activities linked to forest crimes such as tree cutting with axes or chainsaws, gunshots, illegal mining, and unauthorised human or vehicle movement. Once such sounds are identified, the system sends instant alerts to forest officials, enabling quicker response.

Beyond identifying threats, “Deep Ear” can also recognise animal calls, including those of elephants and tigers, and track their movement patterns. The AI has been trained to differentiate between natural environmental sounds like rain, wind, or bird calls and potentially harmful noises, reducing the chances of false alarms.

A notable feature of the device is its use of Long Range (LoRa) communication technology. This allows it to function effectively even in remote forest regions where mobile network connectivity is weak or unavailable.

Cost-effectiveness is another major advantage. While similar solutions offered by global players are priced at around Rs 1.5 lakh per unit, Mohanty’s device has been developed at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000, making it more accessible for large-scale use by forest departments.

Mohanty said the idea behind “Deep Ear” is driven by a sense of responsibility to protect forests at a time when technological progress often comes at the cost of environmental degradation.