🦏 AI Is Protecting Baby Rhinos
In Kenya's Aberdare National Park, a new AI-powered system is being tested to protect black rhino calves from hyenas. The project is led by the Rhino Ark charity and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Black rhinos were nearly wiped out by poachers in the 1980s. Now, efforts are underway to reintroduce them to the park, but protecting the young is crucial. Calves are especially vulnerable until the age of two, and there have been cases of hyenas attacking and killing them.
🔊 How the Deterrent System Works
The Austrian company IT-Revolutions developed the automated defense system. AI-powered cameras are placed along migration routes and trained to recognize animals by sight and sound. When a hyena is detected, a siren and directional ultrasound are activated. The signal is inaudible to humans and most animals—but extremely unpleasant to hyenas.
The system runs 24/7 and keeps learning: with each detection, it improves its accuracy. For now, it's in pilot mode, with specialists monitoring it around the clock. A 19-kilometer electric fence has also been built around the area to create a safe zone.
📊 Early Results
Initial results are promising, but scientists warn of potential side effects. The ultrasound may affect more than just hyenas, and interfering with predator behavior could have ripple effects throughout the food chain. Ecologists plan to closely study how the system impacts the broader ecosystem.
