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AI for Conservation / Feed

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the field to analyse information collected by wildlife conservationists, from camera trap and satellite images to audio recordings. AI can learn how to identify which photos out of thousands contain rare species; or pinpoint an animal call out of hours of field recordings - hugely reducing the manual labour required to collect vital conservation data.

discussion

Exploring the Wild Edge: A Proposal for a New WILDLABS Group

Youssef Bayouli

9 June 2025 5:41pm

Over the past year, I’ve found myself returning again and again to one big question: How can we make conservation tech work where the wild really begins , where the signal...

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Stuart Johnson

13 July 2025 5:02pm

This sounds like a great idea, this is an area that I want to do more work in,

 

Where can I sign up.

 

 

Youssef Bayouli

15 July 2025 5:43pm

Hey Stuart,

Thank you for your interest! We're glad you'd like to be part of our journey. We're still in the process of setting up the group, and we'll let you know as soon as we're ready.

Thanks for your understanding! 🤗 

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discussion

Software for tortoise re-identification

Elisabeth Wareing

27 June 2025 12:41pm

I was wondering whether anybody has come across AI-software that would be able to re-identify animals - I am looking for a tool to re-identify giant tortoises.I have a small group...

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Jason Holmberg

11 July 2025 4:26pm

We would be happy to explore supporting this in the Internet of Turtles (iot.wildbook.org). We support marine and terrestrial species, and the HotSpotter (SIFT) and MiewID v3 algorithms for re-ID would likely have good zero-shot matching potential.

Elisabeth Wareing

18 July 2025 7:25am

Hi Jason, 
That sounds exciting. From what I understand, the Internet of Turtles focusses mainly on animals traveling long distances. The tortoises I am interested in re-identifying are limited in their range, as they the island they are on is quite small. Would that nevertheless be of interest for that database? And if so, how would you suggest to proceed? 

Elisabeth Wareing

18 July 2025 7:38am

Also, I would generally interested to contribute to the Internet of Turtles with sea turtle photos. There are a lot of Green and Hawksbill sea turtles of various ages in the sea surrounding the island where I work, so I have requested an account via the website

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AI Pipeline for digitalisation of labels

Ginevra Bellini

17 July 2025 9:44am

Dear colleagues, I'd like to share with you the output of the project KIEBIDS, which focused on using AI to extract biodiversity-relevant information from museum labels. Perhaps it can be applied also to other written materials, more related to conservation? Have a look!

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discussion

Halow wifi, local AI, thermal + visible

Kim Hendrikse

6 July 2025 11:15am

I've just recently received a halow wifi bridge set. The pair I ordered claims up to 3km operation line of sight. Now I suspect that 2km line of sight might be more what one could...

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Luke Ditria

12 July 2025 1:08am

Thanks for sharing! I've been thinking about using WiFi links for some applications. Any idea how much power they require?

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discussion

Monitoring bat and bird collisions at MET Tower

Adam Miles

11 June 2025 5:14am

I live in American Samoa where we have large populations of flying foxes, seabirds, and forest birds. There is a plan to build a 120 m met tower with 30 guy lines (10 lines in 3...

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Adam Miles

3 July 2025 12:56am

Yes, thanks Riley and Kim. Someone suggested WIS and I am currently in discussions with them. Their system seems especially well suited for the purpose and I am hoping it works out.

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discussion

Tech for Impact Collaboration

Tian Xie

2 July 2025 3:41am

Do you know a nonprofit or organization that is looking to work with students passionate about the environment?  Code the Change Harvey Mudd College is a ...

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discussion

🌊 FathomVerse mobile game debuts new features to help gamers participate in ocean exploration

Lilli Wakinekona Carlsen

27 March 2025 1:20am

The ocean is vast, mysterious, and full of charismatic critters that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie. But unlike outer space, you don’t need a rocket to explore it—just a...

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discussion

I WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY

Barny Dillarstone

29 June 2025 10:22am

I create ocean exploration and marine life content on YouTube, whether it be recording nautilus on BRUVs, swimming with endangered bowmouth guitarfish, documenting reef...

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discussion

Try new SpeciesNet + Animal Detect combination online

Eugene Galaxy

22 June 2025 10:38am

Hey everyone,I am Eugene, a co-founder of Animal Detect together with @HugoMarkoff. For almost a year now we are building an online platform to upload -> filter -> classify...

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Jakub Bubnicki

27 June 2025 12:24pm

Great work @eugenegalaxy! Please consider Camtrap DP as one of your export formats.

Hugo Markoff

27 June 2025 12:49pm

Hey, you are asking the right kind of questions! There are quite a lot of things which make Animal Detect unique, while we constantly build on new and improved features. 

Currently, we are working with ViT models and different methods and algorithms in combination with classical detection models, to add even more true positive detections into classes, while also using these algorithms to suggest classes for images.

Our algorithms scales and works best on larger uploads of data, where we actually create a model from the data, while we run classification. 

While all of this is happening, we also help to sort the detections based on similarities, for a quicker way to re-classify and handle human-in-the-loop. 

I am trying to (if it works) upload a gif, where you can see a result from where we got detections of over 21.000 animals from about 6.000 images. What you will see is that the images are not sorted based on the label (even if you can filter them as you wish) but instead similarities. This makes the reviewing and adjustment of classes a breeze, compared to manually going through and spotting a black-backed jackals together with a mix of other types of animals. 

We are always open for feedback to improve this even further 😊

 

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discussion

Case Studies Wanted! How is AI already being used in the Ecology sector in the UK (and beyond?)

Sam Reynolds

23 June 2025 11:03am

Hello Community!I am looking for AI case studies, specifically within the UK and Ireland, of where AI is being used in ecology and nature conservation. I am...

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Carly Batist

27 June 2025 12:18pm

Hi Sam,

I'm the Nature Tech and AI Innovation Manager at Conservation International, and we have a number of use cases of AI for different aspects of conservation (sustainable supply chains, restoration, nature finance, climate adaption, etc.). But, we work primarily across the Global South (Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific) so they aren't UK or Europe examples. Feel free to DM me if you'd like to chat more, if not for this podcast, just for general knowledge-sharing :)

-Carly

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discussion

New Group Proposal: Systems Builders & PACIM Designers

Chad Richardson

18 June 2025 2:52pm

Co-Creating Collective Impact Across the Conservation Technology EcosystemDear WILDLABS Community,I am proposing the creation of a new WILDLABS group focused on...

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Frank van der Most

19 June 2025 9:08am

Hi Chad,

Thanks for the text. As I read it, PACIMs play a role in something else/bigger, but it doesn't explain what PACIMs are or what they look like. Now I've re-read your original post, I'm thinking, maybe I do understand, but then I feel the concept is too big (  an entire system can be part of a PACIM ? ) to get going within a WildLabs group. And you want to develop 10 PACIMS within a year through this group? Don't get me wrong, I am all for some systems change, but perhaps you're aiming too high. 

Chad Richardson

19 June 2025 12:19pm

Hello again sir - PACIMs really mean 'projects' is the way I see it. Each part of the acronym can be seen as a project (if you have an assignment to do, you have a project really).

 

As for your query on 10 projects in 'this' group - I should ask for clarification if you mean particularly acoustics or in any group (I see now this is the acoustics thread after I selected all the groups for this post). If you are asking on acoustics, you're right - I am unsure on 10 as I am not too keen on acoustics yet. If you are asking 10 projects as a whole like 10 projects in the funding and finance group - I believe 10 to be a very reasonable number. Our projects we have co-created are for the most part replicable, rapidly deployable, quickly scalable, fundable through blended finance and more. 

 

Thank you again for the feedback.

Frank van der Most

19 June 2025 1:43pm

Thank you for your reply, Chad

I meant 10 as a whole, indeed. Perhaps you see your post in one group, but since it is tagged for all groups, I assumed you meant 10 in total.

In your first post you explain PACIM stands for "Projects, Assignments, Campaigns, Initiatives, Movements, and Systems", so I understood it as more than just projects. Obviously, many things can be packed into a project or called a project, but then, what does it mean that 'Projects' is part of the list?

Well, if you think 10 projects is doable, then don't let me stop you.

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discussion

ICCB 2025 – Let’s Connect!

Stephanie M.

9 March 2025 5:06am

Hi Everyone,I’m excited to be attending my first ICCB 2025 as a student presenter and early-career researcher! My work sits at the intersection of computational epidemiology and...

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Arky

16 June 2025 8:33am

Hey Stephanie, 

I have dropped you couple of links. I believe we also have a booth somewhere. 

 

Fadhilla Golda

16 June 2025 8:41am

Hi Stephanie,

It’s great to hear about your exciting work and that you’ll be attending ICCB 2025 — congratulations on presenting!

The Savannah Tracking team is participating at the exhibition, and we’d love for you to stop by our booth 15.

Given your previous interest in collaring domestic dogs and collecting high-resolution GPS data, it might be a great opportunity for us to connect in person and dive deeper into how our lightweight collar solutions — like those currently deployed on Dingoes — could support your project. We'd be happy to show you how our satellite-enabled collars work, demo our data platforms, and explore a potential fit for your needs.

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discussion

How drones, AI & Open Source Software are being used to combat Alien Invasive Plants in South Africa

Sean Hill

2 June 2025 10:08am

Alien Invasive Plants (AIP) have become a major threat to South Africa's sensitive Fynbos biome. In 2017 and 2018, fires in the Western Cape region killed 8 people and destroyed...

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Sean Hill

7 June 2025 9:36pm

Hi Ginevra, thank you! Its such a huge advantage to have tech tools available to us in conservation. Not just from an analysis point of view but also from a practical application view😊

Chris

17 June 2025 1:26am

Aloha, this is a great project. Thanks for sharing. I have been looking for ideas to integrate machine learning with some of the conservation work we are engaed in here on Kauai. Thank you

Sean Hill

17 June 2025 11:00am

Thank you for your comment Chris! Using these tools has made a huge difference in the way we can monitor and manage Invasive Alien Vegetation. I hope you are able to integrate similar systems with your projects there. If you need any help, feel free to reach out!

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discussion

Documentary on Conservation

Nick Rizzini

5 May 2025 10:12am

My name is Nick Rizzini, and I’m a London-based filmmaker currently working on a documentary focused on wildlife conservation. A section of the project aims to explore...

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Victor

20 May 2025 11:16pm

Hi Nick,

At Wildlife.ai, from the other side of the world, we would be happy to chat with you. PM if interested 

Victor

 

Kyle Horner

2 June 2025 10:19pm

Hi Nick!

At Birds Canada, our NatureCounts open data platform connects bird and biodiversity data with people who need it for conservation and research. In particular, our mobile app makes data collection by citizen scence and research projects more efficient, accurate, and accessible. We are happy to chat, if that aligns with your project!

Kyle

Fadhilla Golda

16 June 2025 8:53am

Hi Nick,

Thank you for reaching out and for the incredible work you’re doing to spotlight conservation through film. We’d be very interested in learning more about your documentary project.

At Savannah Tracking-Home - Savannah Tracking, we design and manufacture innovative wildlife tracking technologies — from lightweight GPS tags/collars for birds and medium-sized mammals, to robust satellite-enabled collars for elephants (Asian & African). Our tools are used worldwide to support wildlife conservation, research, and conflict mitigation by providing real-time movement data.

We’d be happy to connect and explore how our work might fit into the story you're telling around technology's role in conservation. Feel free to reach out to us or let us know the best way to continue the conversation.

Looking forward to hearing from you

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discussion

Smart Drone to Tag Whales Project

Leandro Buss Becker

8 June 2025 12:19pm

Hi all,Let me please introduce our project named Smart Drone to Tag Whales, awarded in WILDLABS AWARDS 2024.Our research team (@machadoams, @anakfleck, @...

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Frants Jensen

14 June 2025 12:19pm

I would love to hear updates on this if you have a mailing list or list of intersted parties!

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Link

Drone Imagery and Deep Learning enabling northern gannet counts

Elsa Carla De Grandi

12 June 2025 9:52pm

Using Ultra-High-Resolution Drone Imagery and Deep Learning to quantify the impact of avian influenza on northern gannet colony of Bass Rock, Scotland. Would love to hear if you know of any other similar exaples from elsewhere in the world where a similar approach was used.

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Read "Bass Rock Colony Counts - Scottish Seabird Centre" on Bass Rock Colony Counts

Bass Rock Colony Counts - Scottish Seabird Centre

The Scottish Seabird Centre work in close collaboration with The University of Edinburgh School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh Airborne Research and Innovation Facility, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and Edinburgh Napier Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science to conduct count surveys of Northern Gannets breeding on Bass Rock.

Bass Rock Colony Counts
discussion

Non-Invasive Turtle Nest Monitoring Using RTI Technology

Nik Fadzly N Rosely

29 May 2025 1:12pm

📢 We're excited to share our new #ConservationTech initiative!Using Radio Tomographic Imaging (RTI), our team is building a non-invasive system to monitor...

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Lukas Adam

9 June 2025 6:51pm

Hello, could you please elaborate on what the purpose of this project is? Thanks a lot :)

 

Lukas

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