AI is becoming a powerful partner for communities involved in conservation activities, which is happening when ecological concerns are becoming more complicated. There is a pressing need to preserve our natural environment and respective biocultural legacies. 

AI and conservation work together to improve our capacity to monitor and protect ecosystems, reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife, manage resources more efficiently, and promote sustainable wildlife and human coexistence. 

In this perspective, artificial intelligence (AI) is not only a technological achievement; instead, it is a driving force behind the empowerment of conservation stakeholders, including local communities, and the enhancement of their ability to safeguard the planet's biodiversity and the livelihoods of those who depend on it. 

According to research, the market for artificial intelligence in forestry and wildlife was projected to be valued at US $1.7 billion in 2023. It is anticipated to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.5% by 2032, when it would have reached US $16.2 billion. 

A study on bat exploitation 

A recent study from the University of Sussex published in Conservation Biology demonstrates how scientists are utilising social media and artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in uncovering risks to species worldwide. In order to identify the global scope of risks to bats from hunting and commerce, researchers at Sussex have employed artificial intelligence (AI) to acquire online records from Facebook, X/Twitter, Google, and Bing. 

The new study shows how social media and internet content generated by media outlets and the general public can aid in improving our knowledge of global wildlife issues and redirecting conservation efforts. 

The Sussex team found 22 nations—including Bahrain, Spain, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Singapore, which had the most significant number of new records—active in bat exploitation, encompassing hunting and commerce, but had not been previously detected by conventional academic study. 

The team created an automated system that enabled them to perform extensive searches on several platforms. Using AI, they sifted through tens of thousands of results to locate pertinent information. All reports or observations regarding bat exploitation were utilised to create a worldwide database of "bat exploitation records." 

Let's explore a few of the most prominent applications of AI in wildlife preservation. 

AI-based wildlife observation 

Traditional methods often relied on human observation, which was labour-intensive and prone to error. Modern sensors and cameras combined with AI-powered monitoring systems assist in overcoming this. 

These technologies enable real-time tracking, identification, and detection of animals, providing data on population dynamics and habitat preferences. Machine learning algorithms analyse massive amounts of information, allowing researchers to extract valuable insights. 

Helps to spot intruders 

Using AI, numerous national parks have implemented camera traps, which are infrared sensor-equipped cameras placed in forests to track possible poacher movements. 

Such deployment of Artificial intelligence for security offers rapid response time that prevents potential poachers and invaders. 

Helps identify animal species 

AI is used in the Wildbook project to identify different species. AI algorithms recognise particular animals based on their unique physical characteristics, such as the shape of a whale's tail or the pattern of spots on a giraffe. This automated technology significantly reduces scientists' time and effort to identify species. 

Helps track endangered wildlife 

Natural Captial Exchange (NCX) uses satellite imagery analysis to generate detailed maps of forests. These maps provide:

• Valuable information about the kind of trees that may be found there.
• The state of the forests' maintenance.
• The amount of carbon that the forests can store.

This knowledge is crucial for managing forests in a way that mitigates the effects of climate change. 

Helps keep an eye on the trade in wildlife 

Various organisations deploy AI programmes to analyse internet data on wildlife trade. An artificial intelligence tool called "AI Wildlife Trade Analyst" has the ability to interpret massive amounts of data from a range of online sources, including social media, online forums, and e-commerce sites. Identification and categorisation of data on wildlife trading is carried out through it. This includes species names, products, prices, and places. After that, the data is used to generate insights into the trade's nature, size, and trends. 

Source: Conservation Biology

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