WildSeek – Using drones and thermal imagery to help Koalas

The ‘WildSeek’ Project:

Brings together community environment groups and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Wildlife – it is a partnership project,  between NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Landcare Australia the EGCMN.

EGCMN has now completed 15 square kilometers of Koala surveys!

Wildseek brings our collective expertise, knowledge, and network reach, to co-create and support a National Conservation AI Network of Community Hubs for the conservation and rescue response of native species. Specifically, in the first instance, Koalas but expanding to other species in time.

Together local partners, staff and volunteers are using the data captured at the Hubs and analysed by QUT to make informed decisions regarding advocacy, protection and management of koalas, other wildlife and their habitat.

 

EGCMN havee stablishied the East Gippsland Wildseek community hub, as part of this national initiative, which has seen us using remotely operated aircraft (drones) equipped with thermal imaging cameras to detect and document Koalas in the fire affected forests of East Gippsland.

We have completed the appropriate training,  have three pilots accredited and all the accreditations including insurance to undertake this important work.

EGCMN now have three pilots!

We have been out their looking for and gathering Koala data over the past few years and are also able to offer our services using this amazing equipment.

Below is an example of some of our work:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a need for thermal imaging of wildlife with a conservation outcome in mind,  please get in touch.

 

You can view and read some of our flight survey reports below:

 

Wildseek_Mt. Jack flight report

Wildseek_Rainguage_Stoney Crk flight report

Wildseek_Wattle Creek flight report

 

 

More info about the broader Wildseek program can be found here