Guwahati, Aug 9: Aaranyak, a leading biodiversity conservation organization in Northeast India, has unveiled a new mobile application aimed at reducing human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Assam and surrounding regions.
The app, named “HaatiApp,” is designed to function as an early warning system, alerting villagers to the presence of wild elephants near human settlements to prevent dangerous encounters.
The app available on Playstore will be applicable in Assam and Meghalaya, where there is a large-scale man-elephant conflict.
The app has been developed by Aaranyak’s Elephant Research and Conservation Division (ERCD) under the leadership of Dr. Bibhuti P Lahkar, a senior conservation scientist.
In addition to providing real-time alerts, HaatiApp also includes an ex-gratia application form for damages caused by elephant depredation.
Aaranyak will assist in submitting these forms to the appropriate Forest Divisions on behalf of affected individuals, streamlining the compensation process. This initiative is supported by the SBI Foundation.
To further aid in HEC mitigation, Aaranyak has also released a handbook on solar-powered fences. Written in Assamese, the manual offers comprehensive guidance on the installation, management, and maintenance of solar fences, which have been effective in deterring elephants from entering agricultural fields and human habitation. The handbook is intended for use by grassroots communities, forest department personnel, and contractors, with support from the British Asian Trust and the Darwin Initiative.
The official launch of HaatiApp and the solar fence manual took place on August 10 in a ceremony organized by Aaranyak in Guwahati.
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