Satellites and AI Join Forces to Save Britain's Hedgehogs!

Researchers at the University of Cambridge are using advanced technology to help save hedgehogs in the UK. Hedgehogs are small, spiky mammals whose numbers have dropped a lot in recent years. To find out where hedgehogs live and what is causing their decline, the scientists are using satellite images and artificial intelligence. The AI tool, called Tessera, looks at very detailed pictures of the UK taken from space. It can spot hedgehog habitats, like hedgerows and grassy areas, and even predict where hedgehogs might live if clouds block the view. This technology helps scientists make accurate maps showing where hedgehogs are doing well and where their homes are disappearing.

The researchers are also using tiny GPS trackers that they attach to some hedgehogs. These trackers let scientists follow the animals' movements in real time. By combining the data from the trackers with the maps made by Tessera, the team can learn about the obstacles hedgehogs face, such as roads or new buildings, that make it hard for them to find food or mates. The scientists hope that this information will help them protect hedgehogs and improve their chances of survival. They even have a nickname for the hedgehogs with trackers: 'digi-hogs. '

Hedgehog populations have fallen by as much as 75 percent in rural parts of the UK since 2000. The only native hedgehog species in the UK is now considered 'Near Threatened. ' Some people worry that using powerful computers and satellites could harm the environment because they use a lot of energy. However, the researchers believe that the benefits of using AI and satellite data for conservation are worth it. The Tessera system is open-source, which means other scientists can use it too. More than 100 research groups are already using Tessera to study things like farmland and crops. By making it easier to analyze satellite data, Tessera is helping scientists ask important questions about the environment and find ways to protect wildlife like hedgehogs.