The state of Assam in northeastern India has launched a mobile app called HaatiApp, developed by Aaranyak, to warn people of incoming herds of wild elephants and reduce violent encounters between humans and the animals. Human-elephant conflicts have been on the rise in recent years due to the shrinking habitats of elephants as urban development expands. The app tracks the movements of wild elephant herds and alerts users if they are at risk of a collision.
Between 2017 and 2022, these conflicts in Assam caused over 200 elephant deaths and 400 human deaths. The app also allows residents to report elephant sightings, injuries, deaths, and property damages, and seek compensation from government entities through a form provided by Aarayak. Along with the app, the organization released a handbook on using solar-powered fences to keep elephants away from human settlements.
Assam is home to a significant elephant population of 5,700, second only to the state of Karnataka in India. The state is also known for its vast agriculture and wildlife sanctuaries where endangered species like the Asian elephant and Indian one-horned rhinoceros seek refuge. The launch of the HaatiApp is seen as a step towards reducing human-elephant conflicts and promoting coexistence between wildlife and humans in the region.
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