📖 AI Wildlife Detection Glossary
Explore essential AI wildlife detection terms to understand the cutting-edge technology driving modern conservation efforts. From camera trap AI to predictive analytics, this glossary will guide you through key concepts in 2025’s wildlife monitoring landscape.
📘 Table of Contents
AI Wildlife Detection
The use of artificial intelligence to automatically identify, track, and analyse wildlife from camera traps, acoustic sensors, or drone data.
Camera Trap AI
An automated camera that uses AI to classify images or videos of animals, filtering out blanks and recognizing species.
Species Recognition Model
A machine learning algorithm trained to identify specific animal species in images or sounds.
Deep Learning
A type of AI that mimics the human brain to recognize patterns, used for classifying wildlife in complex environments.
Computer Vision
A field of AI that enables computers to interpret and understand visual information from the environment.
Object Detection
A process where AI models locate and classify multiple objects—like animals—in a single frame.
Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)
A deep learning model especially useful in analysing visual data such as wildlife photos from trail cameras.
Acoustic Monitoring
Using sound-based sensors combined with AI to detect specific animal calls or vocalizations in natural habitats.
Bioacoustics AI
Machine learning tools that analyse animal sounds to detect presence, behaviour, or migration patterns.
Predictive Analytics
AI methods used to forecast animal behaviour, habitat use, or human threats like poaching.
MegaDetector
An open-source Microsoft AI tool that identifies humans, animals, and vehicles in camera trap images.
Wildlife Insights
A platform built by Google and partners to use AI in processing and sharing wildlife camera data.
EarthRanger
A data platform for real-time wildlife and ranger tracking, often combined with AI detection tools.
Poaching Prediction AI
Tools like PAWS that use AI to predict where poaching is most likely to occur based on past data.
Habitat Mapping AI
AI-assisted tools that map out terrain or vegetation changes to detect shifts in habitat or threats.
Drone-based Wildlife Monitoring
Use of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with AI to scan for animals from the air.
Image Classification
Assigning a category (e.g., species) to an image using AI, based on training data and features.
Model Training
The process of teaching an AI system to recognize animals by feeding it large amounts of labelled data.
False Positive
When the AI mistakenly identifies something (like a branch) as an animal. Common in early models.
Precision and Recall
Key performance metrics used to evaluate how accurate and complete an AI model is in detection.
Data Labelling
The manual or semi-automated process of tagging data (images, audio) for use in training AI.
Transfer Learning
A technique where an AI model trained on one task is adapted for another—like switching from identifying dogs to detecting deer.
YOLO (You Only Look Once)
A popular real-time object detection algorithm used for wildlife in motion.
OpenCV
An open-source library used for real-time computer vision, often integrated into wildlife AI applications.
Citizen Science + AI
The combination of public participation and AI tools to process large datasets faster (e.g., Zooniverse).
Seek App
A mobile app using computer vision to identify flora and fauna, trained by iNaturalist’s vast image database.
SpeciesNet
An advanced AI project focused on learning to identify thousands of animal species from photos and video.
AutoML
Google’s platform that allows developers to train AI models without deep programming knowledge, useful for custom wildlife datasets.
Cloud Vision API
A tool by Google that detects objects and text in images, often adapted for species recognition tasks.
Edge AI
Running AI directly on a device in the field (like a camera or drone) without needing constant internet.
Thermal Imaging AI
Using infrared sensors combined with AI to detect animals based on body heat, often used at night.
Behaviour Recognition
AI that not only detects presence, but also interprets animal actions such as feeding, mating, or migrating.
Species Density Estimation
Using AI to calculate how many animals of a species exist in a given area.
Smart Collars
Wearable devices with GPS and AI capabilities to monitor animal movement, behaviour, and health.
Conservation AI
A broad term for AI technologies aimed at protecting wildlife, reducing habitat loss, and promoting biodiversity.
Anomaly Detection
Identifying unusual patterns in movement or behaviour that may signal danger, poaching, or illness.
Multi-Sensor Fusion
Integrating data from various sensors (audio, visual, thermal) to improve AI decision-making accuracy.
Ecological Data Pipeline
The complete system of collecting, analysing, and visualising field data using AI tools.
Smart Dashboards
Real-time interfaces used by conservationists to view AI findings, alerts, and field camera results.
AI Training Dataset
A curated collection of labelled wildlife photos, sounds, or movements used to train detection models.
Detection Threshold
The confidence level at which AI decides it has identified something accurately (e.g., 80% sure that’s a cougar).
AI Confidence Score
The AI’s probability estimate that what it’s detecting is correct, often shown as a percentage.
Wildlife AI Ethics
The study of how AI tools can be developed and used responsibly to protect wildlife without causing harm.
✅ Conclusion
This glossary of AI wildlife detection terms equips you with the vocabulary to understand and leverage cutting-edge conservation technologies. Bookmark this guide as you explore how AI continues to transform wildlife monitoring and protection.