Tamil Nadu launches HAWK to combat wildlife crimes
The platform, powered by advanced technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, will serve as a centralised state-level intelligence and monitoring system. It is designed to streamline documentation, enhance decision-making, and enable proactive responses to wildlife crimes.
'Currently, information is siloed within individual forest ranges or divisions. With HAWK, crime reports will be instantly available to all HAWK users across the state,' said chief wildlife warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, adding that it would fundamentally change how wildlife crime data is managed.
Jose Louies, WTI CEO, said the system would empower forest officials to prevent hostile activities, and address threats to habitats. HAWK comprises two modules: Shikra, for recording wildlife mortality incidents across the state, and Peregrine, the core module, which tracks all crime-related data from initial reports to final court judgments.
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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu launches HAWK to combat wildlife crimes
COIMBATORE: The state forest department, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and NTT Data, has launched the Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK), a real-time crime management platform aimed at curbing forest and wildlife crimes. The launch coincided with World Elephant Day celebrations on Tuesday. The platform, powered by advanced technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, will serve as a centralised state-level intelligence and monitoring system. It is designed to streamline documentation, enhance decision-making, and enable proactive responses to wildlife crimes. 'Currently, information is siloed within individual forest ranges or divisions. With HAWK, crime reports will be instantly available to all HAWK users across the state,' said chief wildlife warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, adding that it would fundamentally change how wildlife crime data is managed. Jose Louies, WTI CEO, said the system would empower forest officials to prevent hostile activities, and address threats to habitats. HAWK comprises two modules: Shikra, for recording wildlife mortality incidents across the state, and Peregrine, the core module, which tracks all crime-related data from initial reports to final court judgments.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu launches forests, wildlife crime management system ‘HAWK'
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has launched Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK), a digital-cum-centralised forests and wildlife crime management system similar to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) used by the police. Tamil Nadu is the third State, after Kerala and Karnataka, to implement the software, which was developed by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and IT services provider NTT DATA. Odisha is in the process of implementing the software. Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, launched a customised version of HAWK for Tamil Nadu Forest Department during the World Elephant Day celebrations held in Coimbatore on Tuesday. According to WTI, HAWK is an advanced monitoring and intelligence platform that will help the Forest Department fight against wildlife crime, improve forest surveillance, and protect endangered species. By integrating real-time data analysis, field reporting, and rapid response mechanisms, the software will also strengthen the Department to prevent hostile activities, enhance conservation efficiency and mitigate threats to wildlife habitats. As part of the implementation, WTI trained the Department staff across the State. HAWK operates through four integrated modules — Peregrine for forest and wildlife crime management, Shikra for wildlife mortality reporting, Harrier for offender monitoring (mobile-based), and Kestrel for legacy data integration. 'As of now, Peregrine and Shikra modules of HAWK have been implemented in Tamil Nadu. Now, a wildlife offence report on a poaching incident can be processed with simple procedures using the Peregrine module. It can handle all the processes from the initial reporting of an offence to judgement by court and generate reports,' explained Sethu Gopinathan from WTI. When information related to wildlife mortality, for example elephant deaths, are uploaded on HAWK through Shikra module, the software can generate region or State-wise reports or even analyse trends. Integration of Harrier and Kestrel modules is currently under way for HAWK in Tamil Nadu. Harrier, which is a mobile application module, enables analysis of individuals involved in wildlife crimes, especially habitual offenders. Kestrel is to compile and manage information related to older cases. The Named Entity Recognition feature of HAWK extracts key data like offender names, locations and aliases from textual inputs. The network analysis maps offender relationships to reveal criminal networks and recurring patterns. The predictive modelling feature forecasts poaching hotspots using historical data. Based on the data, staff at a forest check post can find out whether a vehicle stopped by them had been involved in a forest or wildlife offence previously. Mr. Gopinathan added that HAWK designed for each State can also be integrated, if required. It can also be linked with other platforms like the CCTNS through API integration.
New Indian Express
06-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Odisha to adopt HAWK for wildlife crime monitoring
BHUBANESWAR: In a major step towards tightening the noose around poachers and wildlife criminals, the state government is planning to replicate the Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK) system, an advanced data-driven platform that has revolutionised wildlife crime monitoring and enforcement in Kerala. Addressing the state-level DFO conference here, PCCF (Wildlife)-cum-chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha said the state wildlife wing will soon use HAWK technology to replace manual documentation of wildlife crimes, and equip forest field staff and wildlife crime investigating officials with realtime data tracking, analysis and intelligence generation. The state will also leverage the cutting-edge technology for effective wildlife management. The cloud-based information management system used by the Kerala Forest department to combat wildlife crime will enhance forest officials' ability to prevent and address illegal wildlife trade and related activities, sources said. Jha said the state is also planning to launch PRAHAR application for submission of monthly progress report at divisional-level for regular monitoring of forest and wildlife management and to improve transparency. He spoke on other advanced technologies being used for forest and wildlife management. Use of AI camera towers and AI integrated trail guard cameras have immensely helped officials in Similipal and other forest landscapes to monitor movement of the wildlife and crackdown against the wildlife criminals. Use of thermal drone and other technologies have also proven to be huge success, he said.
