Gaj Rakshak App to Monitor Elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Authorities at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh are turning to technology to address the growing challenge of human-elephant conflict. The recently launched ‘Gaj Rakshak App’, inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on the occasion of World Tiger Day in Bhopal, is now being deployed in the reserve to monitor elephants in real time.

Developed in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, the Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Kalpvag Company, the app is expected to transform elephant conservation and protection measures in the region.

How the App Works

• The Gaj Rakshak App provides real-time location data on elephants, including their movement and behaviour.
• It sends timely alerts via SMS, push notifications, voice calls, and sirens if elephants approach villages, helping prevent human-elephant conflict.
• Equipped with offline functionality, the app ensures connectivity even in remote areas.
• Elephant monitors can upload photos, update locations, and specify whether elephants are roaming solo or in herds.
• Information is instantly shared with app users within a 10 km radius of the elephant’s location.

Officials from September 26–29 underwent training on the use of the app, ensuring its smooth implementation across the region.

Growing Elephant Population

The elephant population in Bandhavgarh has steadily risen in recent years:

• A herd of 40 elephants settled in 2018, making the reserve their permanent home.
• Their numbers have now increased to around 65 elephants.
• Movements are observed not just in Umaria but also across Shahdol and Anuppur districts.

According to DFO Shraddha Pendre, a group of 19 elephants has been living near the Bansagar backwaters in the Byawari region for several months, benefitting from bamboo forests, hills, and abundant water.

Why Elephants Choose Bandhavgarh

Wildlife experts attribute the elephants’ settlement in Bandhavgarh to the availability of:

• Water sources year-round.
• Rich food supply, including bamboo and forest produce.
• Safe habitat with dense forest cover and hilly terrain.

These conditions have made Bandhavgarh an ideal habitat, allowing elephants to thrive and stay permanently.

Wider Deployment of the App

The Gaj Rakshak App is not limited to Bandhavgarh. Training for its use is being provided to forest personnel in:

• Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve
• North & South Shahdol divisions
• Anuppur, Sidhi, Singrauli, Satna, Umaria, and Dindori districts

This ensures a comprehensive elephant monitoring network across Madhya Pradesh, where elephant presence has been increasing.