This AI SmartGate is Helping Protect Native Wildlife From Feral Predators

 

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy has conducted a successful trial of new AI technology to control the movement of feral predators and protect endangered species.

Global conservation leader, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), has been testing new, cutting-edge AI technology to aid the protection of endangered species. Their in-house team of IT experts has designed and built an AI-powered ‘SmartGate’, which allows native species to move from one side of a feral predator-free fenced area to the other.

The technology works to identify the species entering the enclosed tunnel and control the movement of the gates to ensure that only target (native) species pass through. AWC manages a network of nine feral predator-free areas that play a critical role in protecting threatened wildlife from introduced cats and foxes. These predators are the primary driver of native mammal extinctions and ongoing declines in Australia.

The prototype SmartGate was deployed at Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary for trial | Photo by Amanda Bourne/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

The AWC team has recently conducted a trial of a prototype of the SmartGate at Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary on Noongar Country in South West Western Australia, with Woylies (Brush-tailed Bettongs) being the target native species. The trail has been in place since September 2024, with promising results.

‘Results from the trial have been very exciting, with up to 25 successful and safe Woylie transits over 17 active nights and zero instances of non-target transits’, says Yezmin Assad, AWC’s Networking and Telecommunications Specialist and one of the minds behind the invention. 

‘We’ve made exciting advancements, learned many lessons and observed a range of animal behaviours that will result in improvements for the revised version of the SmartGate, currently in development’, she said.

Woylies (Brush-tailed Bettong) were the target native species of the trial | Photo by Wayne Lawler/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

The AI processor in the SmartGate system, known as AWC’s AI Species Classifier Model, is capable of identifying images of up to 120 native wildlife and invasive species. The technology has greatly improved the speed and cost-effectiveness of camera trap data processing.

‘The SmartGate will refine the way scientists and land managers work on the front line of the extinction crisis’, says Damien Kerr, AWC’s Chief Information and Technology Officer. ‘It has enormous potential for integration within AWC’s network of sanctuaries, and offers an exciting glimpse into the future of conservation.’

The technology is still in the early stages of development, however, the potential applications are wide-ranging for conservation and will help improve outcomes for endangered Australian wildlife. Watch this space!

Feature image supplied by AWC