Automated Darting Point Identification System

Limited expertise and experience in handling human-wild life conflicts necessitates automated tools for wild life management. YOLOv8 classification algorithm was utilized to detect the presence of an elephant. Once the presence of the animal is detected an appropriate darting point will also be detected for applying quick-action sedatives as part of the human-wild life conflict management. The proposed automated focusing system can ensure improved target acquisition speed and can be instrumental in the development of an automated dart gun mechanism. Appropriate darting site for elephant was successfully detected by the algorithm after the elephant got classified positively. Top-1 accuracy for elephant/non-elephant classification system, with YOLOv8 achieved a consistent accuracy of more than 97%.