Now, an app to help Forest officials curb wildlife-related crimes in Gudalur

The app-based monitoring system, though already in use in tiger reserves, has been for the first time introduced in territorial forests. 

Its effectiveness in curbing wildlife-related crimes and conflicts in tiger reserves has prompted the Gudalur Forest department to adopt it. With the GPS-enabled M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status), senior forest department officials can now keep a tab on Anti-Poaching Watchers (APWs) on field duty. 

The movement of APWs can be tracked and their area of patrol monitored through the app. 

“This would help monitor the field staff and reach out to them in case of an emergency. Any negligence in duty can also be sorted out as field staff may have difficulties in passing through rough terrain in the jungle,” said a senior official. 

Once an APW begins duty, SMS alerts would also be sent to respective Forest Rangers and DFOs. 

The field staff would feed important observation and inputs during patrolling which would provide data about animal mortality, illegal activity such as poaching, animal population status and trends, habitat status, patrol efforts and human interference in the area. 

Kickstarting the new system, PK Dileep, District Forest Officer (Gudalur Forest Division), gave away 27 smartphones to field staff in 27 beats covering five ranges of the division. 

“Transparent and enhanced patrolling will help the forest department in curbing wildlife crimes to a great extent,”  said Dileep.