How thermal cameras and drone AI help update orangutan census in Borneo

April 20 (Portaltic/EP) –

The drones They have become a support device in the management and maintenance of natural ecosystems and animal species, as occurs in the counting of the orangutan population. from the rainforests of the island of Borneo (Asia).

The International Orangutan Foundation (OFI) has denounced a “silent crisis” occurring in the rainforests of Borneo, related to the orangutan populationwhich is increasingly threatened by the destruction of its habitat due to human activity.

These animals, which are the closest mammalian relatives to humans (they share 97% of the genes), face an increasingly complicated situation, since their Habitats are disappearing due to human activities that promote deforestation and fragmentation.

So much so that, A century ago, Borneo was home to approximately 230,000 orangutans. This figure has decreased over time until reaching figures of between 40,000 and 50,000 orangutans in Borneo in 2004 and around 7,000 on the island of Sumatra (Asia).

In this framework, so that the members of the foundation, in charge of conserving the habitat of the orangutans and their species, can evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions and protection activities, they consider It is essential to know how many orangutans currently exist, as well as their location or status.

However, as this organization has clarified, the official census of orangutans is about to turn two decades old, which translates into outdated data and erroneous information that can also hinder protection efforts.

“The orangutans are in critical danger and we don't even know how many are left. We need an accurate census, to be able to determine whether the rest of our activities are effective or not,” stated the founder of the OFI, Biruté Mary Galdikas.

In order to offer a solution to this panorama, the Canadian researcher and ethologist, Galdikas, and the doctoral student Ruth Linsky, have worked on a initiative that takes advantage of drone technology to update orangutan censuses.

As explained by the organization, the traditional methods To carry out a census of these animals, they consist of manually counting the nests that the orangutans leave while they cross the jungle. That is, researchers must Go into the jungle and look for signs of nests in different areas.which can be used to extrapolate the population.

However, it is a complex task, since, in addition to having to search through the thick jungle forest, the Orangutans build a new nest every night. Therefore, it is a method that requires a lot of time, in addition to being tedious, inaccurate and even dangerous.

Now, with the use of drones, the organization's work to carry out the census of this species is being improved at multiple levels. These devices allow Researchers detect and count orangutans directly, thus offering greater precision and faster results.

Also, this method reduces the cost of the process and implies a lower environmental impactin addition to safer conditions for researchers, who no longer have to enter the jungle in the same way.

In fact, this technology allows researchers to update the orangutan census “from above the dense canopy of the rainforests of the island of Borneo,” monitoring orangutans practically from the same place and taking advantage of the most advanced mobility capabilities offered by drones.

Specifically, OFI researchers are using thermal drones, as is the case of the DJI Matrice 30T drone, equipped with capabilities advanced thermal imaging, zoom technology and smart features.

DJI MATRICE 30T DRONE TECHNOLOGY

The DJI Matrice 30T drone has a thermal camera that allows researchers to detect and visualize the heat forms of orangutanseven in difficult environments with high plant density and canopy coverage.

The integrated zoom technology improves the drone's ability to focus on specific areas that may be of interest. In this way, a more detailed and precise examination of the area can be carried out, avoiding losing valuable information.

This drone also has AI-powered features, with which he is capable of analyze thermal data and better distinguish orangutans from their environmentfacilitating an efficient and accurate count of the specimens.

With all this, the organization has highlighted that, thanks to all these technologies, not only is the counting process speeded up, but it also provides researchers with “a comprehensive knowledge of orangutan populations, contributing to more informed conservation strategies.”

SAVE OTHER THREATENED SPECIES

In addition to helping update the orangutan census, the OFI has announced that this project can help save other threatened species. Specifically, serving as a model for effective counting solutions.

“The “The use of drones shows the power of technology and innovation in protecting the most vulnerable inhabitants of the planet,” the organization has stressed, while reiterating that they have become a tool of “invaluable” for wildlife researchas they provide accurate data to “inform conservation policies and raise public awareness.”

Thus, this project lays the foundation for a “more efficient and accurate” wildlife census, starting with orangutans on the island of Borneo. “The potential impact is profound, offering hope for the survival of endangered species and highlights the crucial role innovation plays in conservation efforts“, concluded the OFI.