Protecting the Earth’s assets with intelligent tech has become a trend. So, AI for wildlife conservation is not a new concept. It has become a powerful tool in saving our planet’s biodiversity. Some animal species are vanishing at a rapid rate due to illegal poaching, habitat loss, and climate issues. So, conservationists have turned to AI technologies to analyze massive data and allow faster decision-making (check our blog about AI for data analysis).
This blog has explored how AI has reshaped wildlife conservation approaches.
Different Ways to Use AI for Wildlife Conservation
Experts use AI for wildlife conservation project in various ways.
Track Endangered Species
AI wildlife tracking simplifies the way to conserve endangered species. Traditional wildlife monitoring methods, such as manual observation and tagging, are labor-intensive and time-consuming.
AI has streamlined the wildlife tracking process through-
Camera and image recognition- AI-driven camera traps have revolutionized wildlife monitoring process. The experts strategically place the traps in habitats to capture animal images. With automatic detection ability, the traps capture videos and images of animals’ movement. The data is then integrated into a vast database, allowing researchers to access real-time information.
Satellite drones and imagery– AI can leverage drones and satellite imagery to identify wild animals in large areas. The satellite images are analyzed to track environmental impacts and habitat preferences. By processing the recorded sounds, AI detects particular vocalizations of animals. Acoustic monitoring systems send real-time alerts to wildlife conservationists and help them identify endangered species.
Analyze Wildlife Habitats
Conservationists use AI for protecting animal habitats and analyzing environmental details.
Remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery captured with AI help you monitor large areas of wildlife habitats. Moreover, by processing satellite images, AI algorithms facilitate habitat mapping. The maps show details of water sources and vegetation cover.
Detailed comparison of satellite images allows AI to detect deforestations that affect natural habitats.
For instance, Global Forest Watch implements AI for real-time satellite imagery analysis and deforestation detection. The platform sends alerts to policymakers and conservationists, allowing them to respond quickly.
AI-equipped drones also streamline the habitat analysis process by providing HD videos and images. Drones cover vast areas and can access any remote locations. Many AI drones capture images of vegetation and enable researchers to evaluate plant health and species. What’s more, drones monitor animal behaviors in a forest and check the impact of various human activities, such as mining and agriculture.
Combat Poaching
AI-driven predictive analysis data forecast the most significant poaching spots. It is easy to analyze different data sources like human activity patterns and geographical features.
AI gathers data from various sources, like social media and park ranger reports. By forecasting poaching activities, AI helps conservationists take proactive measures.
There are also AI-based surveillance system that combines technologies for wildlife area monitoring. So, these are some ways to use AI for wildlife protection and conservation.
Various Applications of AI for Wildlife Conservation
Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized wildlife conservation techniques with advanced technologies like
- Predictive modeling
- Computer vision
- Machine Learning
AI-powered solutions improve habitat restoration, anti-poaching, and wildlife monitoring. Let us now talk about different use cases of AI for wildlife conservation.
Virtual Safari
A virtual safari can provide an immersive experience by integrating virtual reality and AI technologies. So, many conservationists start their virtual safari to monitor inaccessible wilderness areas and learn about wildlife in different natural environments. It allows them to take protective measures for endangered species.
AI-Driven Wildlife Census
The concept of online census of wild creatures has become a reality with AI. Advanced algorithms can filter through photos captured by satellites and drones. They provide instant updates on wildlife population sizes and species distribution. Thus, experts can gather accurate data without disrupting natural habitats.
For example, Pench Tiger Reserve has a virtual wall system that uses AI-driven smart cameras to identify movements and inform officials. Such an approach of using AI for wildlife monitoring helps experts calculate tiger populations and minimizes human-animal conflicts.
Species Identification Software
There are special AI-driven applications to identify animal species. When the animal and plant photos are provided to the application, you can receive real-time data about the subject’s conservation standing, habitat, and species. Thus, data compilation for scientific purposes is now easy.
AI-Based Ecotourism
AI algorithms leverage passenger preferences and ecological data to create a custom ecotourism experience. It promotes education about wildlife conservation and observation.
This environmentally sustainable tour will benefit wildlife and local communities.
What are Examples of AI Wildlife Parks?
Virtual Wildlife Safari is an example AI wildlife park in Hyderabad, India. You will get a virtual experience of exploring India’s rich forests. Meet elephants, tigers, and other animals in their natural habitats. It will be fun to learn about India’s wildlife conservation and ecosystem.
Moreover, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, AI-powered cameras are used to identify poaching activity.
How to Use AI for Marine Wildlife Conservation?
Ai has improved marine wildlife conservation activities by offering innovative solutions for safeguarding aquatic ecosystems. The most important AI use cases for marine conservation are-
- Monitor marine mammals- AI-driven acoustic monitoring devices assess underwater soundscapes. These devices can easily detect aquatic mammal calls. So, researchers can use them to track migration patterns and populations.
- Study coral reefs- As coral reefs are important marine habitats, AI is used to capture their underwater imagery and understand reef health.
- Survey marine biodiversity- AI tools derive a large amount of underwater image and video data for species identification.
- Predict environmental issues- AI models rely on oceanic data to predict seawater acidification and increasing sea temperatures. These predictions facilitate proactive steps to reduce risks to marine life.
Conclusion
Most conservationists want to make data-driven decisions for wildlife protection. They believe AI for wildlife protection ensures speed and precision. AI tools help them track elusive species and predict environmental threats. Using innovative AI devices and applications, experts can identify wildlife habitats and potential concerns caused by human activities.
