How a GPS tracker helped an Idukki dairy farmer find lost animals

Using an affordable GPS tracking system attached to his cattle, dairy farmer Anish MK tracked their movements directly on his mobile phone and retrieved them safely from remote farmland. | Photo credit: special arrangement

When news of a missing buffalo and a male buffalo circulated through local WhatsApp groups in Kozhimala, a village near Kattappana in Idukki recently, residents were quick to share details and seek updates. However, the animal owner did not have to rely on guesswork. Using an affordable GPS tracking system attached to his cattle, dairy farmer Anish MK tracked their movements directly on his mobile phone and retrieved them safely from remote farmland.

Mr. Anish devised a practical method to protect his cattle. Allowing animals to graze freely on hills, pastures and forest edges is common among farmers in mountainous areas, where owners often only check on their animals once a month or when they reach adulthood. Since cattle often wander into forest areas or become victims of theft, Mr. Anish decided to equip his cattle with real-time tracking units.

The system was recently put to the test when the animals wandered out of range for an unusually long period of time, raising concerns that they were in danger.

“The animals got stuck in the area enclosed by the solar fence which blocked them and triggered the alarm. Once they moved out of the enclosure the signal updated and I was able to track and locate them,” Mr Anish said.

Mr. Anish purchased the GPS unit online for ₹ 4,500. “The system runs on a SIM card and a battery that is connected directly to my smartphone. The device is housed in a plastic bottle and secured around the buffalo’s neck. To prevent water damage, I tested the bottle in a bucket of water before attaching it to make sure it was completely waterproof. One charge lasts about a month, which gives enough time to remove the unit and recharge the battery,” he explained.

“If the tracker signals an abnormal delay or alert, we know immediately that the animal may be in distress,” he said.

Forest department officials noted that while radio collars and satellite transmitters are routinely deployed on wild elephants and tigers during translocation or monitoring operations, adapting commercial GPS technology for domestic livestock grazing along forest boundaries is an innovative and cost-effective solution.

Published – 27 Oct 2026 13:43 IST