Conservationists in the UK turn to AI to save red squirrels

AI technologies are emerging as crucial tools in wildlife conservation efforts, with a new system called Squirrel Agent demonstrating promising results in protecting endangered red squirrels in the UK.

The innovation: Squirrel Agent is an AI-powered system that can distinguish between red and grey squirrels with 97% accuracy, enabling automated control of specialized feeding stations.

• The technology has been trained on thousands of squirrel images to recognize distinctive features between the two species
• The system controls access to feeders, directing red squirrels to food sources while steering grey squirrels toward contraceptive-containing stations
• Five wildlife charities are currently testing the system across various UK locations

Conservation crisis: The situation for red squirrels in mainland Britain has reached a critical point, with population numbers experiencing severe decline.

• Grey squirrels, introduced to the UK roughly 200 years ago, pose an existential threat to native red squirrels
• The invasive grey species carries a virus that is lethal to red squirrels but harmless to themselves
• Red squirrel populations now primarily survive in Scotland, Ireland, and isolated island locations like Anglesey and the Isle of Wight

Technical capabilities: The AI system overcomes several challenges in squirrel identification that human observers face.

• Not all red squirrels actually display red coloring, requiring analysis of multiple physical characteristics
• The system examines features such as tail structure, ear shape, size, and weight to make accurate identifications
• Real-time processing allows for immediate decision-making about feeder access

Future developments: Gensys Engine is working to enhance the system’s capabilities beyond species identification.

• The next iteration will focus on identifying individual squirrels through whisker pattern recognition, similar to human fingerprint identification
• This advancement will enable tracking of family lines and more detailed population monitoring
• The technology shows potential for application to other wildlife conservation efforts

Broader applications: AI-powered conservation tools are gaining traction in various environmental protection scenarios.

• The World Wildlife Fund has employed AI to assess wildlife survival in Australian bushfire zones
• Similar technologies have been adapted for residential wildlife management, such as deterring unwanted garden visitors

Conservation outlook: While Squirrel Agent represents a promising technological intervention, the survival of Britain’s red squirrels remains precarious and will require sustained, multi-faceted conservation efforts leveraging both traditional methods and innovative technologies.