Source: alberta.ca
Thermal drones combined with AI footage reviewers are helping locate families of wild boar in Alberta, in an ongoing effort against the invasive species.
A report has surfaced detailing a collaboration between the University of Calgary and Alberta Agriculture to test a new version of aerial pig detection: Unmanned drones that capture thermal footage, and that thermal footage is put into an AI program to help detect which hot spots are boars, and which are regular wildlife.
According to University of Saskatchewan professor Ryan Brook, these pigs can be sneaky, and as soon as they detect humans, are known to simply run and hide, proving the removal and management of boar numbers next to impossible.
CJWE caught up with Ryan Brook, to talk about why exactly these boars present such big issues in Alberta.
We got to chat with Ryan about the new and improved tech, and how it will strengthen Alberta’s boar defenses.
We also discussed why the AI component was necessary, and how training models to spot boars can be helpful.
Ryan also shared with CJWE what to do if you know of a supposed boar hideout, what to do, and who to call.
Anyone with information on wild boar locations and/or activity are asked to get in touch with Alberta Squeal on Pigs and to not try to deal with the boars yourself.
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