How biologists and technologists are teaming up to improve wildlife conservation

As the planet faces an unprecedented crisis in biodiversity loss, traditional methods of tracking and protecting endangered species are no longer sufficient.

Ecologists and conservationists have long relied on GPS collars, camera traps and field studies to monitor wildlife, but these techniques are slow, expensive and invasive. With ecosystems under increasing pressure, there’s an urgent need for faster, more scalable solutions to safeguard at-risk species.

Enter the EU-funded WildDrone project – an initiative combining cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary expertise to help usher in a new era of wildlife conservation. Led by the University of Southern Denmark, a team of biologists, computer scientists and engineers from across Europe is revolutionizing how we monitor endangered species, using autonomous drones and artificial intelligence (AI) specifically designed for wildlife conservation.

While technology has often been associated with human-centric and industrial challenges, it’s now becoming a transformative tool for protecting ecosystems in urgent need.

Biodiversity is declining rapidly, with an estimated 1 million species at risk of extinction, according to the United Nations' 2019 report on biodiversity. Africa, home to endangered species like elephants, lions and rhinos, is at the forefront of this crisis. Poaching, habitat loss and climate change compound these threats, pushing conservationists to find innovative solutions.

The need for real-time, scalable and non-invasive monitoring methods has never been more pressing. While traditional conservation tools like GPS collars provide invaluable data, they are costly and require extensive fieldwork.

Camera traps, though useful for monitoring animal behaviour, can be cumbersome to deploy, and they only cover single locations. As ecosystems grow more complex and landscapes more expansive, we need faster, more efficient tools that can cover larger areas without disturbing wildlife.

That’s where WildDrone comes in.

WildDrone uses autonomous drones equipped with AI to reshape wildlife monitoring. These drones cover vast landscapes, analyze wildlife and collect crucial data. AI-powered image recognition automatically identifies species and individuals, distinguishing between elephants, rhinos, lions and more.

Beyond species recognition, it also tracks individual characteristics such as size, weight and markings – enabling real-time monitoring without human intervention. Drones are faster, more cost-effective and scalable, offering a solution that can be deployed across large territories with minimal human resources.

In Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, WildDrone technology is currently being tested in collaboration with local partners, officials and rangers. Drones fly over vast areas, identifying and tracking animals like rhinos and lions. The data is then used to create detailed maps of populations and habitats, enabling conservationists to identify areas or animals needing immediate attention.

In an environment where habitats are fragmented and poaching is a growing threat, real-time data is critical. AI processes images from drones, enabling conservationists to act quickly against emerging threats.

At Ol Pejeta, where more than 600 rangers work to protect wildlife and prevent human-wildlife conflict, drones are proving valuable. Rangers track animal movements to avoid conflicts with nearby communities, and WildDrone’s technology streamlines this work.

Drones offer rangers real-time insights across large areas, reducing the need for constant human presence on the ground. A key goal of the project is to train and equip rangers with the skills to use this technology effectively, enabling them to monitor wildlife more efficiently.

By simplifying tasks, drones let rangers focus on strategic interventions rather than time-consuming fieldwork. As project manager Ulrik Pagh Schultz Lundquist notes, drones make tracking animal movement patterns at Ol Pejeta easier than ever. The conservancy serves as a living lab where collaboration with end users shapes technology development, demonstrating how rangers can work more efficiently and ethically using drones and AI.

What sets the WildDrone project apart is its emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration. By bringing together biologists, engineers and computer scientists, the project harnesses collective expertise to create solutions that wouldn’t be possible within a single discipline.

Biologists bring a deep understanding of animals and the need for conservation, while engineers and computer scientists provide expertise in drone navigation, AI and autonomous systems. Working together, they design solutions that meet the needs of both animals and conservationists. By sharing knowledge, the team is creating a new paradigm in conservation technology, one that could be scaled globally.

WildDrone offers a model for how technology can be used for sustainability worldwide. In the face of both the climate and biodiversity crises, projects like WildDrone are crucial in safeguarding ecosystems and preventing species extinction.

By creating efficient, scalable and non-invasive monitoring solutions, WildDrone offers a glimpse into a future where conservation and technology work hand in hand. If we are to slow, halt and reverse biodiversity loss, innovation isn’t just desirable – it’s essential.

As the project progresses, there is potential for further refinement. Future developments may include more sophisticated AI models, improved drone designs and new methods for real-time data analysis. Lessons learned in Kenya could be applied globally, offering a solution to a worldwide crisis. The PhD students trained through WildDrone will become part of a new generation of scientists tackling the biodiversity crisis through interdisciplinary innovation.

The urgency of addressing biodiversity loss cannot be overstated. While WildDrone is still in its early stages, its potential is clear. By blending biology with technology, the project is charting a smarter, more sustainable path for conservation.

Ultimately, it’s a reminder that when different disciplines collaborate to solve a common challenge, extraordinary things can happen. The future of wildlife conservation may very well depend on the magic of cross-disciplinary innovation.