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AI to Eavesdrop on World's Wildest Places to Protect Endangered Wildlife

Biologist Jenna Lawson embarked on a groundbreaking project in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula to monitor the elusive Geoffrey's spider monkeys using 350 hidden audio monitors. The data collected was immense, prompting Lawson to utilise artificial intelligence to identify monkey calls and track their movements. This study, one of the largest acoustic wildlife projects, uncovered concerning insights about the health of a vital wildlife sanctuary.


A monkey with dark fur is behind a chain-link fence, gripping the fence with one arm and looking through it.
Credit: AP PHOTO/MATT O’BRIEN

A recent paper in the journal Science highlighted the urgency for AI-assisted wildlife surveillance, as 28% of plant and animal species face extinction risks. Researchers demonstrated that machine learning can efficiently analyse vast amounts of data, aiding biodiversity conservation efforts. However, technical challenges persist in this field.


Microsoft's AI for Good Lab introduced a novel hardware and computing system named Sparrow, designed to eavesdrop on remote wildlife habitats. Powered by solar energy and AI chips, these devices can operate autonomously for extended periods, transmitting data via satellites. The Sparrow initiative aims to revolutionise ecological studies in crucial biodiversity hotspots worldwide.


The Sparrow project will commence testing in Colombia's jungle preserves and Washington state's Cascade Mountains, with plans to expand to various continents by 2025. Microsoft intends to make this technology accessible to researchers globally in real-time, while safeguarding sensitive location data to prevent misuse by poachers.


AI to Eavesdrop on World's Wildest Places to Protect Endangered Wildlife
Credit: AP PHOTO/MATT O’BRIEN

Lawson's pioneering bio-acoustic study in Costa Rica revealed the spider monkeys' avoidance of human-altered areas, indicating the ineffectiveness of designated wildlife corridors. Her findings, published by the Royal Society of London, underscore the importance of preserving undisturbed habitats for endangered species like spider monkeys.


AI to Eavesdrop on World's Wildest Places to Protect Endangered Wildlife
Credit: AP PHOTO/MATT O’BRIEN

Lawson's use of audio monitors not only offers a cost-effective method to study wildlife behaviour but also minimises human interference, providing a more accurate depiction of animal activities. This unobtrusive approach is crucial for understanding and conserving sensitive species like spider monkeys.

 
  • Biologist Jenna Lawson utilised AI to track elusive spider monkeys in Costa Rica.

  • Microsoft's Sparrow project aims to revolutionise wildlife surveillance using AI and solar-powered devices.

  • Research highlights the urgency of AI-assisted wildlife monitoring to combat extinction risks.


Source: AP NEWS

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