India introduces new app to reduce fatalities caused by wild elephants

The state of Assam in northeastern India has launched a mobile app called HaatiApp to warn people about incoming herds of wild elephants in order to reduce violent encounters between humans and the animals. The app, developed by Aaranyak, tracks the movements of wild elephant herds and alerts users if they are at risk of a collision. Human-elephant conflicts have been on the rise in recent years due to habitat loss caused by urban development, leading to more aggressive behavior from the elephants. These conflicts have resulted in over 200 elephant deaths and 400 human deaths in Assam from 2017 to 2022. The app also allows residents to report elephant sightings, injuries, and property damages, as well as seek compensation from government entities through Aaranyak. Along with the app, Aaranyak has released a handbook with information on using solar-powered fences to keep elephants away from humans and property. Assam is known for its vast agriculture and wildlife sanctuaries, home to species like the Asian elephant and Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The state has the second-largest elephant population in India, with over 5,700 elephants, after the state of Karnataka. The launch of the HaatiApp is aimed at ensuring the safety of both humans and elephants in Assam.

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