Software engineer Mudasir Ali from Srinagar has developed WildPing.org, a free wildlife alert platform designed to protect people from encounters with wild animals and help prevent human-wildlife conflict in Kashmir. The inspiration behind this initiative comes from a deeply personal tragedy. Mudasir lost his mother in a bear attack in 2020, just a few steps away from their home. Determined to help other families avoid similar experiences, he developed WildPing as a community-based early warning system. The platform allows users to report sightings of bears, leopards and other wild animals within seconds. People who register a watch zone receive instant alerts when an animal sighting is reported within a 2.5-kilometre radius. Users can create watch zones around their homes, farms, workplaces and children’s schools, while a live map displays recent sightings. To improve reliability, WildPing includes user verification, limits on repeated reports and a community-based system for flagging false information. The platform works on Android and iPhone through a web browser and supports English, Hindi and Urdu. It is completely free, with no advertisements or subscription fees. As Kashmir faces growing concerns over wildlife sightings and bear attacks, this initiative offers an additional layer of community awareness. Mudasir emphasises that WildPing does not replace the Wildlife Protection Department but aims to help people take timely precautions. Calling the platform a tribute to his mother, Mudasir hopes it will help save lives and prevent other families from experiencing similar loss.
