This is the algorithm that could save elephants from extinction

An algorithm designed by a research group from the Universities of Bath, Oxford and Twente may be able to help save African elephants from extinction. Coupled with high-resolution imagery, the algorithm enables a satellite to scan large areas of land in short periods of time and collect 5,000 km2 worth of photos, a good fit for the animals' grassland and forest habitats. The tech development is desperately needed as elephant numbers in Africa are estimated to be at just 415,000. The savanna elephant population has reduced by 60 per cent in the last 50 years and the number of forest elephants have fallen by 86 per cent in the previous three decades. The AI technology carries less risk of double counting, does not endanger humans in the data collection process and is less disturbing for the animals - an improvement on techniques used in the past. Earlier this year Dr Ben Okita, co-chair of the IUCN elephant specialist group, named poaching as one of the biggest threats to African elephants who are targeted by ivory traders.