Sultanpur National Park installs AI cameras for bird migration monitoring

Three watchtowers at Sultanpur National Park have been fitted with AI-enabled cameras that wildlife officials say can identify bird species from 200 to 300 metres away.

The cameras began operating earlier this month and are intended to track bird movements and migration patterns across a wider stretch of the wetland. RK Jangra, divisional forest officer (wildlife), Gurugram, said the system will add to the department’s database as the peak migration period begins. October to December is the park’s busiest season for migratory birds.

The park has about 30 to 35 cameras in total. Unlike periodic counts by birdwatchers, continuous camera monitoring may record arrivals, movements and activity that visual surveys can miss. Officials said the project cost ₹1 crore.

About 250 bird species have been reported at Sultanpur, including bar-headed geese, northern pintails, common teals, gadwalls, common pochards and northern shovelers. The Asian Waterbird Census counted 2,593 migratory birds from 48 species there in 2025, compared with 2,686 birds from 43 species in 2024.

Sultanpur reopened on October 1 after its June-to-September closure. Entry is free until October 8 for Wildlife Week.