© James Nature Pics, Adobe Stock

WE CELEBRATE THE INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY DAY: AERIAL WILDLIFE MONITORING AT THE CÔTE D’IVOIRE

We celebrate the "International Day for Biological Diversity" - for example with the monitoring project "Data analysis and training for a use case for the application of drone data in wildlife surveys" in the Comoé National Park in Côte d’Ivoire. This project is part of the GIZ programme “Triangular Cooperation for Digital Innovation Made in Africa – DIMIA” to empower African-led digital innovations, including drone and data technologies for biodiversity and climate.

The GIZ project supports the OIPR - Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Réserves in developing an innovative drone-based approach for wildlife monitoring in Comoé National Park. It focuses on using drone imagery to improve the monitoring of key species such as hippopotamus, crocodiles, elephants and other large mammals. In the park, drones can complement existing monitoring methods by covering river corridors, savanna areas and wildlife hotspots more safely and efficiently, while reducing disturbance to animals.

The first field mission revealed a promising starting point: motivated local teams, solid planning skills and a clear interest in bringing drone technology into everyday conservation work. After an initial “warm-up” phase that will include in-depth practical training for drone operators, regular equipment checks, simple maintenance procedures, clear and detailed protocols, and reliable technical support, the system could operate to its full potential, becoming a crucial conservation tool for the park.  

GFA Consulting Group supports the project through technical advice on flight planning, the definition of suitable survey designs and the development of an innovative analytical approach using a semi-automated workflow based on artificial intelligence for image processing. Indeed, deep-learning tools will help to detect, identify and count animals in aerial photographs reducing the time needed for manual analysis and making wildlife surveys more accurate and efficient. In the long term, the results can provide OIPR with better information for biodiversity monitoring and evidence-based conservation decisions.

By combining innovation with capacity building, the project aims to create a realistic and locally manageable system for wildlife monitoring in Comoé National Park, with potential for future replication in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.

> Read more about the project on our website