AI poison devices are the latest weapon in fight to save King Island endangered birds from feral cats

After almost a year of trials, three AI-equipped devices loaded with poison are helping to tackle feral cat populations on parts of King Island to help save two endangered bird species.Project manager Iona Flett is hopeful that the use of these traps in key habitat areas will boost the birds' chances of survival.

They have been implicated in at least 27 of Australia's 30 extinctions since they were introduced during European settlement.But because King Island is remote, vast and difficult to traverse, these traps are less effective and more expensive to maintain than they are in other parts of the country. Dr Read said that those misfires arose during non-lethal trials of earlier Felixer models and that "the integration of the AI camera has helped to resolve those issues".Scientists calculate extinction riskIn 2019, a meeting of stakeholders was held on King Island to determine how best to help the birds recover, resulting in the formation of the King Island Bird Conservation Action Plan, facilitated by BirdLife Australia.

Surveying conducted by Deakin University researcher Christian Knapp suggests there are at least 300 feral cats on King Island.Between 2021 and 2022, systematic searches of King Island were undertaken as a part of the recovery program, with both important remaining habitat and remnant populations identified.

Artificial Intelligence Poison 1080 Feral Cat King Island Scrubtit King Island Brown Thornbill

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