This week marks a historic wildlife conservation breakthrough. A trial using AI to detect southern cassowaries on roads has had promising results, dramatically reducing vehicle-related casualties of this endangered species. Cassowaries are extremely important to the rainforest’s ecosystem. In Cassowary Coast in Queensland, you can easily see them on the side of the highways, but they continuously risk being killed by cars. The trial has most importantly achieved eliminating fatal crashes to zero. This successful outcome is just one example of how technology is enhancing the fight to save wildlife around the globe.
Cassi a large, flightless bird related to emus and ostriches, with beautiful blue and black plumage. It performs an important role in its habitat, dispersing seeds of large-fruited plants. It is still an endangered species, mainly because of habitat destruction and car crashes. About one cassowary gets hit by a vehicle every month on the Cassowary Coast. Unfortunately, last year road collisions throughout Queensland took the lives of almost two dozen cassowaries.
The Impact of Vehicle Strikes
Vehicle strikes are the predominant cause of death for the endangered southern cassowary, which lives in the rainforests of northeast Australia. These charismatic birds enter a stunning display of energy and excitement as they begin to look for mates in early October. So during the breeding season, the risk of collisions increases dramatically. This surge of activity coincides with when cassowary chicks are maturing. At this early stage, these are more likely to move out onto streets.
Darryl Jones, a wildlife expert, emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue:
“It is really important to try and identify how we can reduce that.”
He notes that swerving or hitting a cassowary at high speed not only endangers the bird but poses serious risks to drivers.
The “Large Animal Activated Roadside Monitoring and Alert System” has been implemented. This innovative sensor technology has demonstrated an impressive accuracy rate of 97 percent in identifying cassowaries near crossing points, alerting drivers to their presence.
Effectiveness of the AI Trial
The trial run on a stretch of the Kennedy Highway has delivered astounding outcomes. In each case, AI technology has successfully identified cassowaries in the road and warned oncoming motorists. Because of that, there’s a 31 percent drop in fatal crashes. They lowered speed limits on outer roads from 80kph to 60kph. Consequently, there were no documented cassowary casualties over the trial period.
Jax Bergersen, a secretary at a local nursery, expressed her support for these efforts:
“Once the speed limit was reduced to 60 [kph], we haven’t had any deaths.”
The lower speed just as easily made the risky behavior of speeding even more deadly. Each time drivers passed a pair of flashing signs indicating a cassowary crossing ahead, they slowed by an average of 6.6 kilometers per hour.
Future Prospects for Wildlife Protection
The AI trial has already produced encouraging findings. Now experts are calling for further research on its use in areas where cassowaries are often encountered. Dr. Graham Lauridsen highlighted the importance of expanding this technology:
“It will be really good to see how this technology, now we know it works, can be rolled out, especially into areas where there’s hotspots of cassowary interactions.”
Bergersen pointed out that while technology is a great tool, it should not be solely relied upon:
“It’s a great tool and it can be used in certain places, but I’m not sure it’s going to stop traffic if it’s going as fast.”
That even as cassowaries continue to face an ever-present mortal danger, as evidenced by recent, tragic events. Just this past spring, a monogamous large adult male was struck at South Mission Beach while being followed by two chicks.
