The cameras also tracked a variety of invasive species
In Australia, researchers have utilized AI cameras to collect and analyze images of wildlife in regions affected by bushfires, providing valuable insights into the recovery of vulnerable species after natural disasters.
Local land managers, along with WWF and Conservation International, have gathered more than 7 million photos from sensor-activated cameras in eight bushfire-affected parts of the country. Google’s Wildlife Insights AI technology was trained on over 4 million images of more than 150 Australian animals to monitor their recovery over the years following the fires.
The sensor-activated cameras have documented various forms of wildlife, comprising a scarce cluster of echidnas on Kangaroo Island, koalas in the Blue Mountains and southeast Queensland and many other species. Additionally, the AI technology could track invasive species.
The revelation of dunnarts on Kangaroo Island, where fires had destroyed almost 90% of their habitat, brought exhilaration to the researchers.
With more than 90% accuracy, the technology can now identify species such as kangaroos and wombats.
The findings will help in planning for future fires, which are expected to increase due to climate change.
