- Predators are getting closer to populated areas, with tiger populations in India and Nepal on the rise.
- AI technology is being used to prevent conflict and defend people from predators and poachers.
- It was the first AI camera to detect and transmit a picture of a tiger.
Predators are getting closer to populated areas, with tiger populations in India and Nepal on the rise. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is being used by conservationists to develop strategies to prevent conflict and defend people from predators and poachers.
A study utilizing AI-enabled cameras dubbed TrailGuard, which can discriminate between tigers and other species and transmit photos to park rangers or villagers in seconds, was released last month by researchers from Clemson University and various NGOs.
Tiny camera
The cameras started working right away, detecting a tiger 300 meters from a settlement and spotting a group of poachers. The technique virtually eliminates false alarms when traps are tripped by passing boars or falling leaves. It was the first AI camera to detect and transmit a picture of a tiger.
The plan is one of many that inject artificial intelligence into tried-and-true concepts of wildlife observation. Researchers in Gabon are testing an elephant warning system as they sort camera trap photos using artificial intelligence.
Teams are testing apparatus in the Amazon that can hear the noises of tractors, chainsaws, and other deforestation-related activities.
Four years ago, the US tech giant Google collaborated with academics and non-profit organizations to gather millions of photos from camera traps. The “Wildlife Insights” project automates the process of classifying photos and classifying species, saving researchers many hours of tedious effort.
The Resolve NGO’s digital team is led by conservationist Eric Dinerstein, who is confident that technology is advancing their cause. By 2030, they want to make sure that 30% of the planet’s land and oceans have been classified as protected areas, as was decided by numerous governments last year.
An early warning system is essential because animals will need to move safely between protected regions. The fate of tigers, whose habitats have been destroyed throughout Asia, highlights the scope of the problem.
