MP launches Gaj Rakshak App to track elephants and reduce human-elephant conflicts.

In a bid to increase safety in forest-fringe zones and curb rising human-elephant clashes, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has unveiled the Gaj Rakshak mobile application. The app enables real-time tracking of elephant movements and sends alerts to nearby villages, aiming to protect both residents and elephants from fatal encounters.

      - The Gaj Rakshak App provides real-time location data of elephants, enabling forest officials and villagers to monitor movements and patterns. It pushes alerts (via SMS and app notifications) to users in proximity to the animal’s path, helping them stay away from danger zones.

      - Launched on Tiger Day (29 July 2025), the app is being rolled out among both forest staff and local communities in elephant-prone areas. The goal is to bridge the gap between wildlife monitoring networks and vulnerable human populations.

Main Point :-   (i) This app complements a Rs 47 crore mitigation plan recently approved by the Madhya Pradesh government to address human-elephant conflict. The plan includes AI and satellite tracking, installation of deterrent measures (such as chili barriers, bee-hive fences, trip alarms), formation of Rapid Response Teams, and community training programs.

      (ii) To broaden the anti-conflict framework, the state is also implementing supportive measures such as radio bulletins (“Haathi Samachar”), WhatsApp alerts, a 24×7 control room, and district-level “Haathi Mitra” teams. These are intended to ensure timely information flow and coordinated action across affected zones.