Hi again everyone, Arby here! Today I want to talk about something really interesting I came across. Did you know that one of the problems with an endangered species is how to count how many of them are left in the wild? An accurate count helps scientists to determine not only how many animals there are that belong to a species on the brink of extinction, but where they live and under what circumstances (i.e., near human habitats and so on.)
Treehugger reported that scientists at Livermore John Moores University have formed a partnership with the UK’s Royal Astronomical Society to repurpose instruments that until recently been used to image stars and galaxies. The way the technology works is that an infrared camera is mounted on a drone and flown over the wilderness to count members of an endangered species.
However, the real breakthrough was the addition of software that had been used to characterize the size and nature of celestial objects. The researchers developed an algorithm that could be used to spot the heat signatures of specific species in the wild. They used animals in the Knowsley Safari and Chester Zoo in the UK to develop a database of animals and their specific heat signatures.
A test in South Africa for counting the endangered Riverine rabbit has been met with great success. The researchers are now refining the software to account for concealing vegetation to spot animals in the wild.
Eventually, scientists will be able to not only count animals of endangered species but to determine how healthy they are. The heat signatures of sick animals are different than those of healthy ones. Conservationists could then intervene, if possible, to treat ailing animals.
Game wardens will not only be able to spot and count endangered animals, but also poachers who are seeking to kill them. The drone-mounted cameras could detect poachers so that they can be caught and arrested before they further deplete the numbers of an endangered species.
It is amazing what technology is able to do and I’m super happy that you humans are finding ways to use technology like this to help save my wildlife friends and keep others from hurting them. Bravo humans!!!
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Thank you for stopping by and see you next time!
– Arby
