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IBM and WWF-Germany Partner to Protect Endangered Elephants with AI Technology

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IBM and WWF-Germany to Protect Endangered Elephants

Business Honor
16 August, 2024

New AI-Powered Solution Aims to Revolutionize Conservation Efforts for African Forest Elephants

IBM and WWF-Germany have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to develop an innovative AI solution aimed at conserving the critically endangered African forest elephant. By combining IBM's technological expertise with WWF's deep experience in wildlife conservation, the two organizations are set to create a tool that could transform the way keystone species are monitored and protected.

The new solution will use AI-powered visual inspection technology to enhance the tracking of African forest elephants. This technology will allow conservationists to accurately identify individual elephants from camera trap photos, making it easier to monitor their movements and populations. The African forest elephant, which plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, has seen its numbers drop by over 80% due to habitat loss and poaching in the Congo Basin.

IBM's Maximo Visual Inspection (MVI) software will be at the heart of this project. The AI system will analyze images of elephants, focusing on unique features like head and tusk patterns, much like how fingerprints are used to identify humans. This advanced tracking method is expected to provide vital data that can help in the conservation of these majestic creatures.

IBM and WWF-Germany’s partnership marks a significant step forward in using technology for environmental conservation. As Oday Abbosh, IBM's Global Sustainability Services Leader, puts it, "Our collaboration with WWF is about more than just technology; it's about making a lasting, positive impact on our environment and the communities we live in."