Every year, farmers across India lose their hard-earned crops to wandering animals like elephants, boars, and deer. Fences, firecrackers, and electric barriers have long been the go-to options—but they often harm wildlife and escalate conflict. Enter Katidhan, a Bengaluru-based startup founded by S R Ayan, which is flipping the narrative with technology that safeguards farms while protecting animals.

Founded with the mission to solve human-animal conflict ethically, Katidhan deploys smart solutions that blend behavioral science, animal psychology, and tech innovation. Instead of harming or repelling animals violently, their system is designed to confuse and redirect them away from human spaces, keeping both the crops and creatures safe.

Their flagship solution involves AI-powered sound and light systems that mimic natural predators, warning signals, or unfamiliar environmental cues. These are strategically timed and randomized so that animals don’t get accustomed to them. For instance, a herd of wild boars might be deterred by a combination of flashing lights and ultrasonic signals that resemble predator movements or distress calls. The system is fully automated and solar-powered, making it eco-friendly and viable even in remote areas.

The inspiration came from real-life struggles faced by farmers and the increasing number of reports on injuries to both animals and humans due to conventional deterrents. Ayan, who comes from a family of farmers himself, understood the emotional and economic toll it takes when a season’s crop is lost overnight.

Backed by Rs 1.5 crore in funding, Katidhan has deployed its systems across multiple farms in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Maharashtra. The results have been encouraging—crop losses have reduced by up to 80% in the areas where the system is active.

Katidhan’s innovation also helps forests and conservation zones by reducing animal migration into farmlands. Their efforts have received attention from wildlife departments and agricultural cooperatives, and they’re now working towards building custom deterrents for specific species, ensuring a more targeted and humane approach.

In a time when ecological balance is increasingly threatened by urban expansion and climate change, Katidhan shows how empathetic tech solutions can help farmers and wildlife coexist peacefully. They aren’t just building machines—they’re crafting a future where progress doesn’t come at the cost of compassion.

For Ayan and his team, this is only the beginning. With plans to scale across India and explore international markets facing similar issues, Katidhan is set to become a global model for sustainable and humane wildlife deterrence.