Student Launched Wildlife Tracking App in June
The Urban Wild Watch app helps families monitor local animal sightings and stay safe during outdoor encounters.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Wildlife
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Eight-year-old Viyoohan Sayooran launched the Urban Wild Watch app on June 5, 2026, to help people track wildlife encounters across Canada and the United States. The tool provides safety awareness by mapping the general areas and times of recent animal sightings.
Why it matters
The app was created to help families navigate human-wildlife encounters, which have included recent incidents such as a coyote bite and bear attacks, with greater situational awareness.
The platform has registered 158 wildlife encounters across North America since its launch. It was developed by Viyoohan Sayooran, an eight-year-old resident of Markham, Ontario.
The players
Viyoohan Sayooran
An eight-year-old student from Markham, Ontario, who designed a digital tool for monitoring wildlife activity.
The details
Viyoohan Sayooran developed the app using artificial intelligence through a methodology known as vibe coding. The system functions by recording and displaying the general locations and times of animal sightings, deliberately omitting specific addresses to maintain user privacy. By tracking movement patterns, the app aims to alert nearby residents to wildlife activity in their vicinity.
Timeline
June 2026: A grizzly bear approached a woman in Kananaskis Country, Alberta.
June 5, 2026: The Urban Wild Watch app was launched.
July 5, 2026: A coyote bit a two-year-old child in Whitby, Ontario.
July 15, 2026: A couple died following a bear encounter near Lake McTavish.
The Home Front
The emergence of user-generated tracking tools represents a shift toward localized, crowdsourced safety data for homeowners and travelers. This development follows the broader trend of using AI-based vibe coding to quickly deploy community-focused digital resources.
Residents should treat the app as an informational resource rather than a real-time emergency alert system for wildlife. Always verify local municipal wildlife reports and maintain distance when encountering animals in your area.
The takeaway
Maintaining awareness of local wildlife activity is essential for family safety in regions where interactions are common. Families should prioritize keeping a safe distance from wildlife and report dangerous encounters directly to local conservation or animal control authorities.
Further reading
For more information on coexisting with regional animal populations, explore our Wildlife section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBC News.
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