Drones, AI and the future of wildlife conservation
Summary
This episode explores how EU-funded doctoral networks Wild Drone and Wild Botics are deploying robotics and computer vision to advance global wildlife conservation. Guests include Blair Costello, who discusses using aerial drones to study collective animal behavior; Camille Rondeau Saint Jean, a PhD researcher applying photogrammetry to measure harbor porpoises and rhinos; and William Jogi, head of technology at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, who shares frontline insights on integrating these high-tech tools into savannah conservation efforts.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Wild Drone and Wild Robotics projects
Blair Costello: From manual observation to aerial data
Ethical considerations and wildlife disturbance by drones
Drone relay techniques and automation of field missions
AI in ecology: Enhancing human insight with data
Computer vision challenges in species identification
Camille Rondeau Saint Jean: Background and drone choice
Photogrammetry for measuring marine mammals
Identifying individual porpoises and personal reflections
Fieldwork logistics and music in the field
Manual vs automated morphometric data extraction
Transition to rhino monitoring in Kenya
Challenges of locating rhinos in dense bush
Rhino population data and conservation applications
Personal experiences and empathy with rhinos
William Jogi: Ol Pejeta and Northern White Rhinos
Climate change, landscape, and wildlife coexistence
Drone regulations and ranger-led monitoring
Conservation Technology Lab and open science
Operational challenges: airspace, batteries, and safety
Ideal drone use cases and human-in-the-loop decisions
Collaborative field trips and the role of rangers
Funding through tourism and ecological benefits of livestock
Conclusion and next episode preview
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