In the remote mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, something exciting is happening. Conservationists are using artificial intelligence to help save snow leopards, those elusive creatures that are sadly on the brink of extinction. With only about 4,000 to 6,000 left in the wild, every effort counts.
Meet ‘Lovely,’ a snow leopard with a touching story. Rescued 12 years ago as an orphan, she’s been living in captivity because she can’t hunt on her own. Her caretaker, Tehzeeb Hussain, shares, “If we release her, she would just go attack a farmer’s sheep and get killed.” It’s a tough situation, but one that highlights the challenges these animals face.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has reported some alarming numbers. Between 221 and 450 snow leopards are killed each year, mainly because locals retaliate after losing livestock. This has led to a significant 20% drop in their population over the past two decades.
To tackle this, the WWF teamed up with Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan. Together, they’ve developed AI-powered cameras that are quite impressive. These cameras, equipped with lithium batteries and solar panels, are placed at high altitudes to detect snow leopards and send alerts to villagers via text messages.
Asif Iqbal, a WWF conservationist, points to fresh tracks on the ground, saying, “Snow leopard territory.” The AI system is smart enough to tell the difference between humans, other animals, and snow leopards, which helps protect local livestock.
Right now, they’re testing ten cameras across three villages. It took three years to get the AI model to this point, and while it’s not perfect, the results are promising. Asif shows off some GIFs on a dashboard, including one of a snow leopard marking its territory.
Setting up these cameras hasn’t been easy. They’ve faced challenges like finding batteries that can handle harsh winters and dealing with spotty cellular service. Plus, gaining community trust and addressing privacy concerns have been significant hurdles.
Some locals are skeptical. Sitara, who lost livestock to a snow leopard, questions, “My phone barely gets any service during the day, how can a text help?” But attitudes are slowly changing as more villagers recognize the ecological importance of snow leopards, which help control prey populations and preserve grasslands.
Not everyone is convinced, though. A local farmer laments, “We used to have 40 to 50 sheep, now we’ve only got four or five.” Climate change is also pushing villagers to higher altitudes, further complicating matters.
While the AI cameras are a great start, the WWF knows they can’t do it all. They’re planning to experiment with deterrents like smells, sounds, and lights to keep snow leopards away from villages.
The journey to protect these ‘ghosts of the mountains’ continues, and there’s hope that technology will play a crucial role in their survival.
