AI technology to help safeguard endangered elephants

IBM has teamed up with WWF-Germany to develop an AI-driven solution aimed at safeguarding African forest elephants, a species facing severe threats from poaching and habitat loss. This new technology will use AI to accurately identify individual elephants from camera trap photos, enhancing conservation efforts and allowing for more precise tracking of these endangered animals.

The partnership will combine IBM’s technological expertise with WWF’s conservation knowledge to create an AI-powered tool that could revolutionise how elephants are monitored. By focusing on image recognition, the technology aims to identify elephants by their unique physical features, such as heads and tusks, much like human fingerprints.

Additionally, the collaboration will employ IBM Environmental Intelligence to monitor and analyse biomass and vegetation in elephant habitats. The data will be crucial in predicting elephant movements and assessing the ecosystem services provided by these animals, such as carbon sequestration. Such insights could also pave the way for sustainable finance investments by quantifying the carbon services offered by elephants.

IBM emphasised the broader potential of this initiative, highlighting its role in supporting nature restoration and contributing to global climate change efforts. By integrating advanced technology with conservation strategies, the partnership seeks to make a lasting positive impact on both the environment and sustainable development.