Prof. Angela Dassow releases documentary segment on tiger research
In celebration of International Tiger Day, Professor Angela Dassow and her collaborators released a segment of a documentary they have been filming on the human-wildlife conflict between the Tharu people of Nepal and Bengal tigers.
Tiger conservation in Nepal has seen significant progress through habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and community-based efforts. Prof. Dassow and her collaborators have been working in a village on the border of India to develop an acoustic monitoring system that alerts villagers when tigers are near. The team has been exploring how chital deer, a primary prey species for tigers, emit distinctive alarm calls when they detect predators. By deploying acoustic sensors to record these alarm calls, they can indirectly track tiger movements across dense forests, even in areas where camera traps or direct sightings are impractical. This non-invasive method offers a cost-effective, real-time way to monitor tiger presence and behavior, helping refine conservation strategies and protect this endangered species more effectively.
As part of this research, Prof. Dassow’s team has been filming a documentary on the impact this technology has on the local community. A clip of this work was released as part of International Tiger Day and can be found here. A full length documentary will be available in the near future.
Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:
Biology Department