How technology is saving endangered animals
The world of nature isfascinating; there’s no denying that. But unfortunately, nature is decliningglobally at rates unprecedented in human history, and the rate of species becomingextinct is accelerating.
According to a reportfrom the UN, one million animal and plant species are nowthreatened with extinction, many within decades.
As a huge animal lover, I wasintrigued by a recent article in the FinancialTimes on how technology is transforming wildlife conservations,in particular how it’s being used to track and stop poaching – something thatis contributing to the rapid decline in animal species.
Reading the article got mequestioning how else technology is being used across the globe to protect thelives of animals. Artificial intelligence (AI) in particular seems to play akey role. From analysing animal photos to combing through YouTube, AI-enabledsoftware is harnessing data that data scientists can use to make a realdifference.
Here are just some examples ofhow technology is becoming a hero in the animal kingdom:
Catching the poachers
WWF has estimated that theillegal wildlife trade is worth about $20bn a year,contributing to a catastrophic decline in some species. Thanks to advancementsin cameras and AI systems, wildlife conservations have the ability to detectpoachers and, in turn, prevent trapping and killing.
For example, a Wildlifeconservation in Kenya is using a poaching alarm system developed by theZoological Society of London. The poachers’ guns and knives trigger thesystem’s metal detector, which activates a camera camouflaged in a bush.
The images travel by radio toa base station and then via a communications satellite to the parkheadquarters, alerting the authorities in time to dispatch rangers and catchthe poachers.
Conservation drones
Drones are being used aroundthe world to gather data about hard-to-track species, such as Australia’s koalaor Sumatra’s orangutans.
The drones are able to keep an eye on vulnerable populations of animals in different areas, and also carry programming sensors that can identify animals through visual and thermal imagery. They’re even designed to take into account variables like colour, shape and size.
Predictive analytics for wildlife
Predictive analytics softwareis being used to collect a large amount of complex data about wildlife,including an animal’s location, what people think about a species, reasons whythey are hunted, and how everything from education level to access to medicinesimpacts their decisions.
Having access to this data isenabling animal researchers to identify the best areas to focus on conservationefforts, and may even become a key way to save some species.
It’s extremely exciting to seehow technology is enabling us to save some of our most precious wildlife andcome up with better solutions for conservation. While it’s great to see technologylike AI and machine learning making a huge impact in our day-to-day lives, it’seven better to see just how it’s being used to keep the world of nature asbeautiful and diverse as it is today.