DLNR Launches New App for Anonymous Tips on Violations

Visitors are seen here approaching and touching a green sea turtle on the North Shore of O‘ahu on this undated photo. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources urges the public not to touch, pick up, restrain, jump over, straddle, pursue, ride, harass, harm or otherwise disturb Hawaiian sea tutles resting on beaches. Photo courtesy of DLNR

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement recently launched a new app called DLNRTip for people to connect directly with conservation officers, view alerts, and submit anonymous tips from smartphones. It is an extension of the agencies DLNR & You brand, according to a DLNR news release.

DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said DLNRTip will better connect DLNR officers to people and expedite receipt of tips of wrongdoing and subsequent responses.

“We think DLNRtip is a natural extension of the DLNR & You brand and furthers our belief that we can’t protect our state’s natural and cultural resources without the thousands of eyes and ears of concerned citizens who can serve as proxies for DOCARE officers who clearly cannot be everywhere, all the time,” Case said in the release.

Developed by tip411, the DLNRTip app is an innovative program that encourages people to provide DOCARE with factual information leading to the arrest of anyone who poaches or harasses protected wildlife species, pollutes, or violates any State conservation resources rules. Fourteen hundred communities around the country are currently using the application developed by and managed by tip411.

“Our stated mission is to serve to protect, conserve and manage Hawaiʻi’s unique and limited natural, cultural and historic resources held in public trust for current and future generations of visitors and the people of Hawai’i nei,” said Robert Farrell, DOCARE Enforcement Chief.

DLNRTip is available for download for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the DOCARE website at dlnr.hawaii.gov/docare.

“We’re proud to partner with agencies like DLNR/DOCARE to help better connect members of the public with law enforcement to share information,” said tip411 President Terry Halsch. “DLNRTip powered by tip411Mobile will greatly improve the public’s access to agency alerts, social media channels, important information, and more, to help protect natural and cultural resources in Hawai‘i.”

The DLNRTip app and tip411 are completely anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before officers see tips so there is no way to identify senders. People without a smartphone will be able to send an anonymous text tip via their cell phone to DOCARE by texting keyword DLNRTIP and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the DOCARE website noted above. DOCARE will also continue to take calls and tips on its Statewide Hotline, 643-DLNR or 643-3567.