True Corporation Deploys AI-Powered Early Warning System to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in Thailand

Brickinfo News Agency – True Corporation has integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) with its True Smart Early Warning System (TSEWS) to address the intensifying Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Thailand. By utilizing 5G connectivity and IoT-enabled camera traps, the system identifies elephant movements in real-time, providing authorities and local communities with data to prevent property damage and fatalities. This technological expansion, currently active in key conservation areas like Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, aims to foster sustainable coexistence as shrinking natural habitats drive wildlife into human-populated agricultural zones.

The challenge of Human-Elephant Conflict has escalated globally due to urban expansion and habitat loss. In Thailand, data recorded between 2012 and 2024 shows that wild elephant encounters resulted in 227 human fatalities and affected over 150,000 households. Traditional mitigation methods, such as digging trenches or installing electric fences, have often proven limited in long-term effectiveness. The introduction of AI-driven surveillance marks a shift toward digital solutions that prioritize both community safety and wildlife conservation.

The updated TSEWS utilizes AI hosted on cloud servers to process and filter images captured by cameras stationed in conflict-prone areas. This allows for higher detection accuracy, distinguishing elephants from other objects and sending immediate alerts to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and nearby residents. Beyond immediate alerts, the AI analyzes movement trends to help experts understand migration routes and herd behavior, enabling more proactive land management.

Praparnpong Maknuan, Head of TruePlookpanya at True Corporation Public Company Limited, stated: “True believes technology can create balance between humans and nature. By integrating AI with TSEWS, we are able to truly ‘know our elephants’—understanding their behavior and the migration routes of wild herds more accurately. This technology not only reduces potential losses but also strengthens the relationship between people and elephants.”

The initiative, which began as a collaboration with the DNP and WWF-Thailand, is now expanding its reach. A primary focus is the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, a 674,352-rai lowland forest spanning five eastern provinces: Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Sa Kaeo. As the last major ecosystem of its kind in the region, the sanctuary is a critical habitat for elephants, gaur, and hornbills, making precise monitoring essential for the protection of these species.

By leveraging 5G and IoT sensors, the system provides a digital bridge in a landscape where natural habitats continue to decline. The integration of AI ensures that as elephant populations in Thailand’s 91 protected areas grow, the data collected can be used to prevent retaliatory actions against wildlife, aligning with the UN Vision for Biodiversity 2050 to ensure humans live in harmony with nature.