Student develops AI tool to detect elephant poachers, wins $25,000 prize

Anika Puri, a 17-year-old student, created a low-cost AI tool to identify elephant poaching activity. The tool analyzes aerial data from thermal cameras to detect illegal hunting in real time. Her innovation won her the $25,000 Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication. Puri aims to deploy the $300 system to aid conservation efforts in wildlife reserves.