A pioneering study led by the University of Oxford in collaboration with international partners has applied AI for the first time to count the Great Wildebeest Migration from satellite images.
A pioneering study led by the University of Oxford in collaboration with international partners has applied AI for the first time to count the Great Wildebeest Migration from satellite images. Unexpectedly, the results showed fewer than 600,000 individual wildebeest – less than half the previous estimate of 1.3 million animals. The results were published on 9 September in PNAS Nexus.
Lead researcher Dr Isla Duporge (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University) said: 'The field of wildlife conservation relies on having accurate data on wildlife population numbers. Combining earth observation satellite data with deep learning, this study has revolutionised our understanding of migratory wildebeest numbers, and could open the floodgates for surveying other species using this method.'
The Great Wildebeest Migration across the Serengeti-Mara is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. The migration is crucial for the survival of huge numbers of iconic predators, including lions, crocodiles, and spotted hyaena. It also attracts visitors from across the world, generating vital tourism revenue for Kenya and Tanzania.
Up to now, population estimates of Serengeti-Mara migratory wildebeest have relied on manned aerial surveys. These involve flying aircraft along pre-determined straight lines and photographing herds below. Because this approach only directly surveys a small area at a time, statistical models are used to extrapolate densities across unsurveyed regions. This can introduce errors if the herds are unevenly distributed during the survey and move between survey transects.
Read More: University of Oxford
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