Guwahati: Aaranyak, a leading biodiversity conservation organization in the region, has developed a mobile application to foster coexistence between humans and elephants by facilitating the mitigation of human-elephant conflict in Assam and the northeastern region.
The application ‘HaatiApp’ (ElephantApp) will act as an early warning system about the presence of wild elephants in the proximity of human settlements to help villagers avoid negative interface with wild elephants.
Dr. Bibhuti P. Lahkar, Aaranyak’s senior conservation scientist and head of the Elephant Research and Conservation Division, stated that the app will also include an ex-gratia application form against damages caused due to depredation by wild elephants.
The filled-up ex-gratia application form will be submitted to the respective Forest Divisions by Aaranyak on behalf of the victims of the HEC to compliment the Forest Department’s efforts to pay compensation.
The initiative is being supported by the SBI Foundation.
In addition to ‘HaatiApp’, Aaranyak has compiled a handbook in Assamese on solar-powered fences that are used as an effective tool for the mitigation of HEC.
Both the HaatiApp and Solar Fence Manual will be launched during an event on August 10.
The handbook contains detailed information about solar fences, their utility in mitigating HEC, the functioning of each of the components of solar fences, installation procedure, management and maintenance of the fence, and all “Dos and Don’ts regarding solar fences.
The handbook is expected to be useful for the grassroots community engaged in solar fence management, forest department personnel, the firms engaged by the Forest Department to install solar fences, and other conservation organizations interested in utilizing solar fences for HEC mitigation.
British Asian Trust and Darwin Initiative have supported the Solar Fence Manual brought out by Aaranyak.
