Thermal drones integrated with emerging artificial intelligence systems are proving effective in bolstering Alberta’s defenses against invasive and harmful wild boar. Hannah McKenzie, a wild boar specialist with the Alberta government, emphasized the importance of utilizing various tools to combat the issue, with drones being a key component of the solution.
A recent report highlighted a joint effort between Alberta Agriculture and the University of Calgary to evaluate a novel aerial surveillance method for monitoring wild boar populations, which pose a significant threat to agriculture and ecosystems in the Prairies. The report, released in late March on the Alberta government’s website, showcased the use of automated drones equipped with infrared cameras as an innovative and non-intrusive alternative to conventional detection techniques.
In the spring of 2024, researchers deployed thermal drones with heat radiation sensors to detect wild boar bodies. Thermal imaging proved most effective at night, capturing distinct heat signatures against the cooler background. The footage collected was then analyzed by artificial intelligence programs trained to identify wild boar accurately and track their numbers.
Traditional tracking methods like ground tracking and helicopter surveys have limitations due to the nocturnal and elusive nature of wild boar. Thermal drones provide a valuable aerial perspective, enabling researchers to observe these animals from above without triggering their tendency to hide in response to human activity.
Ryan Brook, a lead researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, emphasized the significance of technological advancements in enhancing the capacity to locate wild boar populations effectively. Thermal drones have shown promise in managing wild boar infestations in other regions, offering a way to monitor these animals without causing them to retreat into hiding.
The feral pig population in Alberta comprises a mix of Eurasian wild boar and hybrid breeds resulting from escaped domestic pigs. These hybrids, often referred to as “super pigs,” are highly destructive pests, known for their rapid reproduction rates and widespread environmental damage. They pose a serious threat to the province’s pork industry and ecosystem health, making their eradication a top priority for wildlife authorities.
While previous wild boar control efforts in Alberta have been reactionary, the current focus is on proactive measures such as monitoring, trapping, stringent regulations on wild boar farms, and a ban on sport hunting of wild boar. The drone project marks a potential shift towards a more proactive approach in managing wild boar populations.
The project aimed to train AI programs to detect wild boar effectively, establish a comprehensive database of sightings, and develop a digital habitat map to predict areas where feral herds are likely to be found in Alberta. Through fieldwork conducted in two Alberta boar operations, drones covered over 3,000 kilometers, generating thermal images used to train AI models and validate their accuracy.
Despite promising results, challenges remain in detecting small piglets and differentiating wild boar from other wildlife species. Future research will focus on improving the models’ ability to identify wild boar across diverse landscapes and under varying conditions.
Moreover, the project produced a habitat suitability map to predict areas where wild boar are most likely to inhabit in Alberta, aiding in future mitigation efforts. The collaborative long-term monitoring program aims to address the elusive nature of wild pigs and develop strategies to effectively combat their spread across provincial boundaries.
The advancements in drone technology and AI applications represent a significant step forward in managing wild boar populations, with the potential to enhance disease surveillance, tracking of sounders, and estimating the overall size of the wild boar population in Alberta. The ongoing efforts underscore the importance of a science-based, collaborative approach to address the persistent challenge posed by wild boar infestations.
