FACIAL RECOGNITION TECH TO SAVE KOALAS!
September is springtime for the animal world, and it’s also Save The Koala month! But koalas are facing some serious threats, including habitat loss, climate change, and human activity. That’s why a team of AI researchers and ecologists at Griffith University in South East Queensland are developing facial recognition camera technology to protect these adorable creatures.
Led by Professor Jun Zhou, the team is using a $90,000 grant from the Queensland Government to set up cameras at koala crossing locations. Their goal is to determine how and which koalas are using these crossings and provide research-based planning to help protect the declining population.
In July 2021, the team installed 24 AI-powered cameras at koala crossing locations in the Redland City Council area. These cameras are triggered by koala movement and capture videos and images that are then sent to a server at Griffith University. The AI technology developed by the team analyzes these videos and images to recognize individual koalas.
The researchers have also collaborated with local conservation groups to train the technology to distinguish one koala from another based on their appearance and movements. This collaboration includes organizations such as Koala Action Group Redlands, Daisy Hill Koala Centre, Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre, and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
According to project co-researcher Dr. Douglas Kerlin, koalas are in trouble in Southeast Queensland. They have recently been listed as endangered in Australia, and urbanization is a major driver of their decline. There is a reported link between koala mortality caused by cars and the breeding and population dynamics of koalas.
This innovative technology not only helps protect koalas but also has potential applications in other locations. Queensland Rail Group Senior Manager Environment & Sustainability, Caroline Moss, believes that this research project will help understand how this technology can be applied to their large network.
With increased knowledge about how koalas are crossing roads, better mitigation and management strategies can be developed to ensure a better long-term future for these iconic animals. So, let’s come together to save the koalas and protect their habitats!
What do you think of this incredible facial recognition technology? Have you ever seen a koala in person? Let us know in the comments below!
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