Bengaluru, 7 January 2025: Taking a major step towards enhancing wildlife crime prevention, the Karnataka Forest Department, in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and with support from NTT DATA, a leading provider of digital business and IT services, officially launched the ‘Peregrine’ module of the HAWK (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) software, also known as “Garudakshi.” The launch event, held on 7 January 2025 at Vikasa Soudha, Bengaluru was presided over by Shri Eshwar B Khandre, Hon’ble Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment.

NTT DATA’s collaboration with WTI began in 2022 with the development of the HAWK system, a specialized software aimed at modernizing the Karnataka Forest Department’s approach to forest and wildlife crime management. The first module, Kestrel,’ of Garudakshi, was introduced the same year with financial backing from NTT DATA, marking a major milestone in digitising the state’s offence management. The Kestrel Module consolidates details of all pending cases across Karnataka, providing officials with a centralized platform to monitor case progress and tackle backlogs effectively. This streamlined data access empowers the department with timely insights to expedite decision-making and reduce case pendency.

Shri Eshwar B Khandre, Hon’ble Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment iwith the forest department and WTI team | Photo by Team WTI

Building on this digital transformation, the department has now launched the ‘Peregrine’ Module, a comprehensive tool for managing wildlife crimes. This advanced module covers the entire lifecycle of crime management—from initial reporting to final court verdicts—and includes features for generating essential case documentation. Designed to make offence management entirely paperless, Peregrine minimises documentation errors through guided dropdowns and clear instructions, enhancing both accuracy and efficiency in case handling.

To ensure successful adoption, the Wildlife Trust of India, with NTT DATA’s support, has conducted eight training sessions, training close to 1,000 Karnataka Forest Department officers on the Kestrel Module. These sessions provide hands-on guidance, equipping officers to maximize the potential of Garudakshi for enhanced field effectiveness.

The Karnataka Forest Department’s ongoing digital transformation reflects its commitment to creating a robust framework for protecting the state’s invaluable wildlife and forest resources. The launch of the Peregrine Module marks a new chapter in this mission, advancing accountability, precision, and speed in wildlife crime management across Karnataka.

Shri Eshwar B Khandre, Hon’ble Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment stated that the Forest Department must modernise to address contemporary challenges. He highlighted the development of the Garudakshi (HAWK) software by the Information Communication Technology Wing of the Karnataka Forest Department, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India, to streamline the management of forest and wildlife cases. This initiative enables senior officials to monitor cases more effectively and represents a significant advancement in offence management within the department. The software aims to take a major step toward preventing forest crimes.

Jose Louies, CEO, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) remarked that a centralised system for monitoring and managing wildlife crime would significantly benefit the state forest department by ensuring transparency, saving time, and improving response efficiency. He expressed happiness in partnering with the Karnataka state government to launch the HAWK system, a key step toward digitising wildlife offence management. He also extended heartfelt gratitude to NTT DATA for their invaluable support in bringing this visionary initiative to fruition.

Gauri Bahulkar, Senior Director, Global Corporate Social Responsibility, NTT DATA Services expressed pride in partnering with the Wildlife Trust of India to support the Forest Department’s transition from paper-based to digital reporting. She emphasised that this initiative showcases the power of technology in driving meaningful societal impact in a rapidly changing world. Highlighting NTT DATA’s commitment to fostering sustainable change through technology, she expressed hope for extending this digital transformation to more states in India, thereby streamlining forest operations for frontline teams and strengthening wildlife and forest conservation efforts.