Solar-powered GPS tracking devices attached to giraffes' ears allow conservationists to track them from a distance and know when they move away from protected areas. (© Michael B. Brown/Giraffe Conservation Foundation)
Thanks to technology, wildlife specialists in Africa are able to better protect endangered giraffes and reintroduce them to areas where they had disappeared.
According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation*, there are approximately 117,000 giraffes in the wild, and some species are at serious risk of extinction due to poaching and habitat loss. But thanks to new technologies, including artificial intelligence software, scientists can recognize people based on their spots with unique characteristics. And satellite images help conservationists find suitable habitats for these animals.
The Giraffe Conservation Foundation supports wildlife conservation in 21 African countries, including Rwanda, where the giraffes pictured above were photographed in Akagera National Park. (© Michael B. Brown/Giraffe Conservation Foundation)
“It gives us a little insight into the lives of giraffes that we didn't have before,” explains Michael Brown, an ecologist at the foundation. “These findings (…) flow into nature conservation management. »
The Namibia-based foundation and its partners protect giraffes across 40 million hectares in 21 African countries*. Giraffes live in areas ranging from lush savannahs to relatively desert-like areas, wildlife sanctuaries and areas where the animals live in close contact with humans.
Together with its partners, including the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute based in Virginia (USA), the foundation uses GPS to track giraffes. EarthRanger software, part of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a Seattle-based nonprofit, quickly transmits data to local partners, alerting them when an animal has left a protected area or is no longer moving and may need help.
Acting Assistant Secretary of State Jennifer Littlejohn (fifth from left) visits the Allen Institute for AI in Seattle. (State Department) At right, Michael Brown, GCF Foundation Environmentalist (Courtesy of Michael B. Brown)
In August 2023, Jennifer Littlejohn, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, met with scientists working on EarthRanger in Seattle. She emphasized the importance of conservationists, engineers and governments working together to advance the use of artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to solve the problems facing humans and nature.
The ability to detect the specificity of a spot on an animal, which has required dozens of volunteers in the past, allows researchers to accurately count giraffe populations and better understand the animals' behavior, says Michael Brown. In the United States, scientists are using similar technology to identify North American brown bears based on their facial features.
“If we know them individually, we can understand much better” how giraffes interact with their habitat, continues Michael Brown. With this information, researchers can better determine where giraffe populations are likely to increase over time.
Satellite data influences scientists' conservation decisions. Above: Giraffes are being relocated to Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda. (© Michael B. Brown/Giraffe Conservation Foundation)
Conservationists have successfully resettled giraffes in new areas, including areas where they had disappeared. NASA and US Geological Survey databases provide information from satellite images that can be used to determine whether giraffes are thriving in a particular area. Online tools such as Google Earth also help with this type of analysis.
“The rapid advances made in the use of GPS technology and satellite imagery over the past decade are motivating environmentalists to continue their efforts, concludes Michael Brown.
*in English