MegaFon is rolling out a video surveillance system to monitor wildlife activity near settlements in the Far North, according to the company’s press service. The project aims to track how wild animals move along the forest edge, with live video feeds processed by a neural network that can automatically alert conservationists and emergency responders if predators wander beyond their natural habitats. This initiative marks the launch of a program named “Smart North,” with the first wildlife observation point established in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KhMAO). The concept began with students from the Nefteyugansk branch of the Quantorium children’s technological park, who explored digital tools and engineering basics while learning how to observe wildlife through modern technology. [Attribution: MegaFon press service]
The program aligns with broader national efforts to deploy real-time monitoring across society and business sectors. According to Alexander Kaloshin, MegaFon’s national project director, the company’s technologies now support 24/7 environmental monitoring and automatic data analysis, while partner sites in industry and construction are equipped with comprehensive security and transportation monitoring systems. [Attribution: MegaFon press service]
Experts also emphasize the ecological and scientific value of the Smart North project. Evgeniy Strelnikov, Honored Ecologist of the Russian Federation and Director of the Yugansky Nature Reserve, notes that the system enables wildlife interaction without disturbing animal behavior. He adds that keeping animals in their natural habitat is beneficial for all involved, and that the high-tech approach offers fresh opportunities for studying brown bears. [Attribution: MegaFon press service]
The biometric identification capability relies on the NtechLab platform, a recognized developer of video analytics software. When the artificial intelligence identifies a bear in the video feed and detects movement toward human presence, the system promptly signals environmentalists and emergency services. [Attribution: MegaFon press service]