06-05-2019, 04:33 PM
How AI is helping elephants, orcas and other species
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/how-ai-is-helping-elephants-orcas-and-other-species.jpg" width="1024" height="683" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">E</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">lephant</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> used to </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">wander</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">freely </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">across</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">Asia</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">. T</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">oday, </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">the</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">y roam through a </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">fraction</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> of the land</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">they </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">used to</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">A</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">the </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">human population grow</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">, </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">Asian eleph</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ant</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> habitat</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">continue</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> to shrink. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">I</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">n Africa, the story isn’t much brighter: In addition </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">to</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> dwindling habitat, the African elephant contend</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> with an illegal ivory trade that kills more than 20,000 elephants a year. Conservationists and researchers are doing all they can</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">B</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ut</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">with </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">fewer than 500,000 elephants left worldwide,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> time is running out.</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">That’s where programs like </span></span><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/ai-for-earth"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">AI </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">for</span></span></a><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> Earth </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">come in. </span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">AI for Earth grants are a</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">warded </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">to</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> projects that change the way people and organizations monitor</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> model and</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> ultimately</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> manage Earth’s natural systems</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">. </span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">M</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ore than </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">300</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> grants have been </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">given</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> to projects in 60 countries. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">That’s good news for elephants</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">—</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">and </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">other </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">animals, too</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">S</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ee </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">how</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">researchers, conservationists and scientists are using </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">Microsoft</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">’s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">cloud and AI tools to </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">understand diverse species and </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">safeguard vulnerable animals.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW43422015 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Elephants<br /></strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_7276" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-7276 size-large" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/how-ai-is-helping-elephants-orcas-and-other-species.jpg" alt="elephants in the wild" width="1024" height="683"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Larry Li from Unsplash.com</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Organizations </span><span data-contrast="none">like</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><a href="https://yellrobot.com/elephant-listening-project-ai-conservation-metrics/"><span data-contrast="none">Conservation Metrics</span><span data-contrast="none"> (with the Elephant Listening Project)</span></a><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">use</span><span data-contrast="none"> AI</span><span data-contrast="none">-enabled tools</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">to </span><span data-contrast="none">help </span><span data-contrast="none">ensure a better future for the </span><span data-contrast="none">elephants</span><span data-contrast="none">. </span><span data-contrast="auto">To monitor and predict poaching threats, </span><span data-contrast="none">Conservation Metrics </span><span data-contrast="none">and the Elephant Listening Project</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">use acoustic </span><span data-contrast="none">surveys</span><span data-contrast="none">,</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">and</span><span data-contrast="none"> Save the Elephants </span><span data-contrast="auto">relies on </span><span data-contrast="none">GPS tracking collars. </span><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>
<p><i><span data-contrast="auto">[Subscribe to </span></i><a href="https://news.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/"><i><span data-contrast="none">Microsoft on the Issues</span></i></a><i><span data-contrast="auto"> for more on the topics that matter most.]</span></i><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/how-ai-is-helping-elephants-orcas-and-other-species.jpg" width="1024" height="683" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">E</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">lephant</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> used to </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">wander</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">freely </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">across</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">Asia</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">. T</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">oday, </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">the</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">y roam through a </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">fraction</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> of the land</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">they </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">used to</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">A</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">the </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">human population grow</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">, </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">Asian eleph</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ant</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> habitat</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">continue</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> to shrink. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">I</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">n Africa, the story isn’t much brighter: In addition </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">to</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> dwindling habitat, the African elephant contend</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> with an illegal ivory trade that kills more than 20,000 elephants a year. Conservationists and researchers are doing all they can</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">B</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ut</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">with </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">fewer than 500,000 elephants left worldwide,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> time is running out.</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">That’s where programs like </span></span><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/ai-for-earth"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">AI </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">for</span></span></a><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> Earth </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">come in. </span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">AI for Earth grants are a</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">warded </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">to</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> projects that change the way people and organizations monitor</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> model and</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> ultimately</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">,</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> manage Earth’s natural systems</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">. </span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW43422015 BCX0"><span class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span><br class="SCXW43422015 BCX0"></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">M</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ore than </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">300</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> grants have been </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">given</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> to projects in 60 countries. </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">That’s good news for elephants</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">—</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">and </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">other </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">animals, too</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">S</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">ee </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">how</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">researchers, conservationists and scientists are using </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">Microsoft</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">’s</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">cloud and AI tools to </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">understand diverse species and </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0">safeguard vulnerable animals.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43422015 BCX0"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW43422015 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>
<p><strong>Elephants<br /></strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_7276" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-7276 size-large" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/how-ai-is-helping-elephants-orcas-and-other-species.jpg" alt="elephants in the wild" width="1024" height="683"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Larry Li from Unsplash.com</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Organizations </span><span data-contrast="none">like</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><a href="https://yellrobot.com/elephant-listening-project-ai-conservation-metrics/"><span data-contrast="none">Conservation Metrics</span><span data-contrast="none"> (with the Elephant Listening Project)</span></a><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">use</span><span data-contrast="none"> AI</span><span data-contrast="none">-enabled tools</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">to </span><span data-contrast="none">help </span><span data-contrast="none">ensure a better future for the </span><span data-contrast="none">elephants</span><span data-contrast="none">. </span><span data-contrast="auto">To monitor and predict poaching threats, </span><span data-contrast="none">Conservation Metrics </span><span data-contrast="none">and the Elephant Listening Project</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="none">use acoustic </span><span data-contrast="none">surveys</span><span data-contrast="none">,</span><span data-contrast="none"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">and</span><span data-contrast="none"> Save the Elephants </span><span data-contrast="auto">relies on </span><span data-contrast="none">GPS tracking collars. </span><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>
<p><i><span data-contrast="auto">[Subscribe to </span></i><a href="https://news.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/"><i><span data-contrast="none">Microsoft on the Issues</span></i></a><i><span data-contrast="auto"> for more on the topics that matter most.]</span></i><span data-ccp-props="{"> </span></p>
</div>