With new technologies revolutionizing data collection, wildlife researchers are becoming increasingly able to collect data at much higher volumes than ever before. Now we are facing the challenges of putting this information to use, bringing the science of big data into the conservation arena. With the help of machine learning tools, this area holds immense potential for conservation practices. The applications range from online trafficking alerts to species-specific early warning systems to efficient movement and biodiversity monitoring and beyond.
However, the process of building effective machine learning tools depends upon large amounts of standardized training data, and conservationists currently lack an established system for standardization. How to best develop such a system and incentivize data sharing are questions at the forefront of this work. There are currently multiple AI-based conservation initiatives, including Wildlife Insights and WildBook, that are pioneering applications on this front.
This group is the perfect place to ask all your AI-related questions, no matter your skill level or previous familiarity! You'll find resources, meet other members with similar questions and experts who can answer them, and engage in exciting collaborative opportunities together.
Just getting started with AI in conservation? Check out our introduction tutorial, How Do I Train My First Machine Learning Model? with Daniel Situnayake, and our Virtual Meetup on Big Data. If you're coming from the more technical side of AI/ML, Sara Beery runs an AI for Conservation slack channel that might be of interest. Message her for an invite.
Header Image: Dr Claire Burke / @CBurkeSci
Explore the Basics: AI
Understanding the possibilities for incorporating new technology into your work can feel overwhelming. With so many tools available, so many resources to keep up with, and so many innovative projects happening around the world and in our community, it's easy to lose sight of how and why these new technologies matter, and how they can be practically applied to your projects.
Machine learning has huge potential in conservation tech, and its applications are growing every day! But the tradeoff of that potential is a big learning curve - or so it seems to those starting out with this powerful tool!
To help you explore the potential of AI (and prepare for some of our upcoming AI-themed events!), we've compiled simple, key resources, conversations, and videos to highlight the possibilities:
Three Resources for Beginners:
- Everything I know about Machine Learning and Camera Traps, Dan Morris | Resource library, camera traps, machine learning
- Using Computer Vision to Protect Endangered Species, Kasim Rafiq | Machine learning, data analysis, big cats
- Resource: WildID | WildID
Three Forum Threads for Beginners:
- I made an open-source tool to help you sort camera trap images | Petar Gyurov, Camera Traps
- Batch / Automated Cloud Processing | Chris Nicolas, Acoustic Monitoring
- Looking for help with camera trapping for Jaguars: Software for species ID and database building | Carmina Gutierrez, AI for Conservation
Three Tutorials for Beginners:
- How do I get started using machine learning for my camera traps? | Sara Beery, Tech Tutors
- How do I train my first machine learning model? | Daniel Situnayake, Tech Tutors
- Big Data in Conservation | Dave Thau, Dan Morris, Sarah Davidson, Virtual Meetups
Want to know more about AI, or have your specific machine learning questions answered by experts in the WILDLABS community? Make sure you join the conversation in our AI for Conservation group!
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finding ecological solutions using sound and conservation tech
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Currently a data scientist in industry working on mechanistic models of risk, previously worked on modeling coral reefs. I am interested in the potential for emerging technologies and new ideas to help us solve environmental crises.
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Fauna & Flora
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PhD researcher standardising machine learning approaches for behaviour classification in free-roaming wild animals.
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Game Rangers International
Kasi Amor Kalande is a young conservationist with experience in elephant movement research, GIS, and conservation technology.
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- @Manahil_ijaz
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I’m a nature enthusiast who loves exploring wildlife and ecosystems. Through my research in ecology, I channel this passion into protecting and preserving biodiversity.
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Founder of Life on Purpose Detroit, we work with Detroit Youth to learn about technology and conservation.
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Computer Scientist
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- @Prabisha
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Dedicated research scientist with over 8 years of experience in cartography, spatial analysis, and statistical modeling to tackle environmental, public health, and socio-economic challenges. Passionate about leveraging geospatial technology to drive impactful solutions.
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Article
The recent Ramsar Conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, underscored the critical importance of wetland conservation and the need for innovative solutions to protect these vital ecosystems.
16 August 2025
Funding
The AI for Climate Resilience Program is a new initiative by Klarna that aims to support pioneering projects that leverage artificial intelligence for climate adaptation in underserved, climate-vulnerable regions.
6 August 2025
Article
AI for Conservation Office Hours: 2025 Review
Jake Burton and 1 more
Read about the advice provided by AI specialists in AI Conservation Office Hours 2025 earlier this year and reflect on how this helped projects so far.
6 August 2025
Careers
If you're a Post-Doctoral Fellow, a PhD student, or a member of the research staff interested in applying your computational skills to support active research publications, please read on to learn about the Cross-...
5 August 2025
Careers
If you're a PhD student, post-doc, advisor, or marine expert - Plan Vivo is looking for you!
5 August 2025
A free, self-paced course series for nonprofit professionals is available through August 31.
31 July 2025
Link
GeoCroissant Survey
Alex Rood
The GeoCroissant team is conducting a short survey (5–10 minutes) to better understand user needs and preferences around geospatial metadata in machine learning. Your input will support the development of an open...
28 July 2025
Careers
PhD position AI for coral reefs
Alex Rood
This role will investigate the potential of large-scale deep learning models, for constructing 3D models of coral reefs
28 July 2025
Article
Leveraging AI & Big Data For Love Of The Environment
Robert Chonge
🔥 Excited to join the WILDLAB community! I’m Robert Chonge — a Full Stack Developer with a passion for AI and Big Data, now channeling that tech firepower toward environmental conservation.Let’s turn data into action...
26 July 2025
Careers
Búsqueda de desarrollador de IA - Instituto Humboldt
Vanesa Reyes
El Instituto Humboldt está buscando un(a) Desarrollador(a) de Inteligencia Artificial que quiera aplicar su experiencia en Python y procesamiento de lenguaje natural para proteger la biodiversidad.
25 July 2025
Careers
The Marine Innovation Lab for Leading-edge Oceanography develops hardware and software to expand the ocean observing network and for the sustainable management of natural resources. For Fall 2026, we are actively...
24 July 2025
Link
AI Pipeline for digitalisation of labels
Ginevra Bellini
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...
17 July 2025
August 2025
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Louisa Richmond-Coggan
September 2025
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Louisa Richmond-Coggan
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Louisa Richmond-Coggan
October 2025
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Alex Rood
March 2026
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| That sounds like a really neat project! Do fish get re-caught often enough that individual ID is useful? Is sample bias (more data from popular spots) an issue? |
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AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, Software Development | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| Hi everybody 👋🏽,I'm a UX designer, and I design interfaces and improve user experiences/flows. I would love to contribute to conservation... |
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AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Coexistence | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| greetings! i sent you a PM regarding this, feel free to contact me however is most convenient for you - regards,chris |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Climate Change, East Africa Community, Wildlife Crime | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| I'm looking for any recommendations for any entry level/internship remote roles/companies in the United States that are focused in... |
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AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Early Career, Geospatial | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| Hi everyone! and thanks @StephODonnell for the invite :)I’m a software engineer working on MLOps, and currently studying for a part-time... |
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AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| Indeed, I'll be there too! I like to meet new conservation friends with morning runs, so I will likely organize a couple of runs, maybe one right near the conference, and... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Camera Traps, Geospatial | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi everyone! The Fine Grained Visual Categorization Workshop (FGVC) is hosting its 10th rendition at CVPR this June in Vancouver. A huge... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Marine Conservation | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi everyone,I'm new here :)I'm doing my thesis of biology bachelor about Rhino poaching. I wanted to ask here if yu have some articles... |
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AI for Conservation, Ending Wildlife Trafficking Online, Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Wildlife Crime | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| Yes please reach out with any questions on acoustic monitoring, Arbimon, RFCx, etc.! |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Data management and processing tools | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| I couldn't agree more with both of these comments tom! I'm reading hundreds (literally hundreds) of applications for open WILDLABS roles at the moment, and the ones that stand out... |
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AI for Conservation, Drones, Early Career, Sensors | 2 years 5 months ago | |
| We have made available our underwater videos on YouTube as a playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnhVZKKy8WkZKriCIV6r7upWhHNVrU_7L It's about 1.113 short video... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Marine Conservation | 2 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi Steph, This should be a simple project. Recently I came across a website with a sample video I am not sure whether it was from the wild Labs website. Where a camera is... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 2 years 5 months ago |
