TL;DR:
- Colossal Biosciences partners with Save the Elephants for a groundbreaking initiative in African elephant conservation.
- Cutting-edge drone technology and machine learning are employed to track and understand elephant behavior.
- The project aims to create a more effective, passive elephant-tracking system independent of human observation.
- Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras capture behavioral data processed by Colossal’s machine learning core.
- AI models detect, track, and map elephant locations and analyze social dynamics within herds.
- The initiative addresses the urgent need to combat wildlife crime, poaching, and human-elephant conflicts.
- Research data will also contribute to Colossal’s efforts to rewild the woolly mammoth.
- Colossal has raised $225M in funding and continues to pioneer efforts in species preservation.
Main AI News:
In an unprecedented collaboration, Colossal Biosciences, a pioneering company specializing in de-extinction and species preservation, has joined forces with Save the Elephants to employ state-of-the-art drone technology and machine learning for tracking African elephants in Kenya. Save the Elephants, a prominent nonprofit dedicated to securing a brighter future for wild African elephants, is at the forefront of this innovative endeavor, utilizing technology with dual objectives of conservation and research.
“Elephants are in dire need of additional conservation technologies to protect them. Given Colossal’s unwavering commitment to the preservation, safeguarding, and conservation of animals and ecosystems, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to introduce groundbreaking technology,” stated Ben Lamm, Co-founder and CEO of Colossal.
With this groundbreaking initiative, a deeper understanding of elephant decision-making and behavior will be cultivated, paving the way for more effective habitat conservation. This venture aims to establish a sophisticated and unintrusive elephant tracking system that does not rely on human observation in the field or the need for elephant immobilizations and collaring.
Save the Elephants plans to deploy a fleet of compact drones equipped with high-resolution and infrared cameras to capture invaluable elephant behavioral data. Colossal’s machine learning core will then process this data to create algorithms for the identification of individual and collective social behaviors, effectively enhancing our comprehension of these magnificent creatures.
“The technological sophistication of modern drones, combined with advanced analysis incorporating machine learning and AI expertise, will unveil novel insights into elephant behavior and ecology,” asserted Fritz Vollrath of Save the Elephants. “The better we understand elephants, the more effectively we can contribute to securing a future for these iconic giants.”
Colossal’s cutting-edge AI models will play a pivotal role in detecting, tracking, and mapping the movements of elephants within their natural habitat. Additionally, pose estimation and behavior analysis techniques will delve into the signals, decision-making processes, and social dynamics of elephant herds. These tools will facilitate the organization and analysis of vast amounts of video data collected by researchers at Save the Elephants, enabling the identification of nuanced behaviors that may have eluded human observers.
“This initiative brings Colossal one step closer to revolutionizing the protection and preservation of all elephant species,” emphasized Matt James, Colossal’s Chief Animal Officer. By pioneering innovative approaches to conserve these endangered species, we are gaining unparalleled insights into their behavior in the wild.
Elephants serve as keystone species, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the vitality and biodiversity of their ecosystems—a fact underscored by Colossal. However, the growth of wildlife crime, poaching, and human-elephant conflicts has precipitated a drastic decline in Asian, African, and Forest elephant populations. Poaching alone claimed the lives of more than 100,000 African elephants between 2010-2012, while the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a virus Colossal is committed to eradicating, has been responsible for approximately half of all juvenile elephant deaths in human care.
The research data gleaned from this drone project will not only deepen our understanding of elephant decision-making and behavior using AI models but also provide invaluable data for Colossal’s efforts to rewild the woolly mammoth.
Colossal’s dedicated team, led by James and Leandra Brickson, Manager of Computational Sciences, is applying artificial intelligence techniques to analyze the drone footage collected during this groundbreaking study. Close collaboration with Save the Elephants, including CEO Frank Pope and Fritz Vollrath, Colossal’s scientific adviser and Save the Elephants chairman, underscores the significance of this initiative.
This drone initiative aligns with Colossal’s steadfast commitment to preventing elephant extinction. Furthermore, the company has undertaken several milestone efforts, including preserving the genetic code of all three living elephant species, recording and understanding extant elephant-id population genomes, and accelerating efforts to cure EEHV in all elephant populations. Colossal also envisions equipping modern elephants with traits from their ancestral domain and establishing new populations in low-density areas of the Arctic.
To fund these ambitious endeavors, Colossal has successfully raised a total of $225 million in funding since its launch in September 2021. The company’s recent accomplishment includes an oversubscribed $150 million Series B financing round, affirming its commitment to de-extincting three species: the thylacine, the dodo, and the woolly mammoth, which shares an astonishing 99.6 percent of its DNA with the Asian elephant. As Colossal pushes the boundaries of science and conservation, it remains steadfast in its mission to protect and preserve endangered species.
Observation of the deployment of the elephant tracking drones. Source: Colossal Biosciences
Conclusion:
The collaboration between Colossal Biosciences and Save the Elephants, leveraging advanced technology to track and understand African elephant behavior, marks a significant stride in the conservation market. This initiative showcases the potential of AI and drone technology to revolutionize wildlife conservation efforts, providing valuable insights into preserving endangered species and their ecosystems. As technology continues to play a crucial role in addressing conservation challenges, it opens up opportunities for innovative solutions and partnerships in the market.
