A major leap forward
By Mark Douglas
Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for animals under our care is to leave them alone.
This is particularly true for some of the animals in our zoos where the future of wildlife conservation is going hi-tech.
The dog pack circles, tracking its prey. The leader instinctively takes charge, bringing the pack to order.
Ahead of them an autonomous rover – an advanced remotely controlled vehicle similar to those used to explore off-planet – is dragging a feral goat carcass. Its movements are designed to simulate pray, and for the first time observers are noting these African painted dogs tracking their food. Usually, dinner just appears. This time they need to hunt it down.
In the wild these dogs would be roaming the savannahs and lightly wooded areas of Africa, as they and their ancestors have done for 40 million years. Now they are among the continent’s most endangered species.
They are predators, hunting together to pursue their prey at speeds of up to 66kph for up to an hour. Nearly 80% of hunts end in a kill – lions can manage only 30%.
The pack under observation at Monarto Safari Park consists of seven dogs, being cared for as part of a global effort to protect this species from extinction.
Monarto’s Senior Keeper of Carnivores, Rachel Hemming, is delighted by what she’s just seen.
“I was very excited,” she says. “I’ve worked with painted dogsfor quite a long time, so I have quite a connection with them. Seeing them be able to interact in that more natural way is the first time I’ve seen them do that, and it really did make me very happy for the dogs.”
Nearby, Monarto’s cheetahs are being treated to a different style of hunt. Above them, a drone equipped with first person view cameras is being deployed to enable real-time monitoring and behavioural analysis. Separately, a drone has also been modified to carry a payload of food.
“The introduction of drones triggered fascinating behavioural changes in cheetahs,” research leader Dr Xin Yuan (Vernon) says.
“They exhibited an increased focus on aerial movement, tracking the drones with sharp attentiveness and adapting their behaviours dynamically. Unlike their typical routine in enclosed areas, where they often remain sedentary, the presence of drones encouraged more frequent movement, exploratory behaviours, and simulated stalking responses. Some cheetahs even attempted sudden bursts of speed, mirroring their natural hunting reflexes in the wild.”
Vernon gained his PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide in 2021 following his Bachelor Degree of Engineering with Honours in 2015.
He is now a Senior Research Associate in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the University. He also teaches computer science and engineering at our city campus and at Haide College – a part of Ocean University of China, one of our University’s educational partners in China. His research has a strong focus on artificial general intelligence, cognitive decision-making, robotics and autonomous control systems.
Vernon’s work with Zoos SA is helping assess animal welfare and develop enrichment activities using engineering solutions.
"The integration of AI and robotics into animal care represents a major leap forward in welfare assessment"
From a keeper’s perspective, the drone-based systems Vernon has developed with students to engage with the cheetahs have provided an unprecedented level of real-time awareness, particularly in the safari park setting, where direct human monitoring is challenging. The aerial view enables keepers to quickly assess cheetahs’ locations, identify any potential injuries, and observe social interactions from a distance without causing unnecessary stress. This method improves safety, optimises feeding schedules, and enhances overall welfare management for the animals.
“These innovative engineering solutions are already significantly advancing our ability to monitor and enrich the lives of zoo-housed animals, and show great promise for the future,” Mark Smith, Conservation Manager at Zoos SA, says.
“The integration of AI and robotics into animal care represents a major leap forward in welfare assessment. It enables more responsive, individualised care and creates new opportunities for naturalistic engagement that were previously unattainable. Working with the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering has been mutually rewarding, and a truly aspirational experience.”
Students from multiple disciplines are collaborating in the research, gaining hands-on experience in AI, robotics and conservation technology. They are actively involved in data collection, model development, implementation and field testing, allowing them to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Georgia Mason is one of those students working with orangutans. She is a third year Computer Science student helping research orangutan behaviour and facial expression recognition.
“Orangutans, like humans, exhibit distinct facial features and micro expressions that convey emotions such as curiosity, distress, and relaxation,” she says.
“Our AI model recognises individuals with high accuracy and interprets facial expressions to estimate emotional states.”
A camera system was installed in the orangutan habitat of Adelaide Zoo to monitor orangutan activities continuously. This systemapplies state-of-the-art computer vision algorithms to detect and track body movements, constructing skeletal models to classify behaviours accurately.
The technology automates behaviour tracking, reducing observer bias and enabling 24/7 monitoring. The current system achieved an 88% accuracy rate, with strong recognition performance for certain individuals.
“This enhances zookeepers’ ability to monitor orangutan well-being, providing real-time data that supports individualised care plans, enrichment activities, and health monitoring,” Vernon says.
“Future developments will focus on expanding the dataset to improve recognition accuracy, integrating emotion-based enrichment triggers, and developing a real-time mobile app for keepers to access live behavioural insights. By leveraging AI and automation, we aim to set new standards in zoo-based animal welfare assessment, offering scalable solutions that can be adapted for other species.”
Separately to the research he is collaborating on with Zoos SA, Vernon is working to try to help with the critical decline of thepopulation of Australian sea lions.
He and his team have designed a portable, detachable shelter specifically for Australian sea lion pups in South Australia. The concept focuses on environmental adaptability, protection from harsh weather, and disease prevention.
“The shelter features an insulated, climate-regulated enclosure to mitigate the impact of temperature fluctuations,” Vernon explains.
“To address the problem of hookworm infections, the design includes anti-parasitic flooring materials that minimise direct exposure to contaminated sand. Furthermore, the shelter is equipped with solar-powered cameras and sensors, allowing real-time monitoring of pup behaviour, environmental conditions, and potential threats.”
Currently this project exists only on paper, while Vernon seeks funding to support prototype construction, testing, and large-scale deployment in field trials.
It’s hoped the proposed modular design will ensure that theshelters can be easily transported, assembled, and deployed in remote breeding sites, particularly in areas such as Kangaroo Island and Dangerous Reef, where pup mortality rates have historically reached 30-50%.
“The ongoing development of AI, remote sensing and robotics will continue to create more opportunities for humans to understand, preserve and protect wildlife,” Vernon says. “These have been great projects to play a leading role with and have enabled us to deeply involve our students in research with clear real-world benefits.”
As for the future of such hi-tech engagements with the animals under her care at Monarto, Rachel Hemming says: “We would love to do more things like this. If we had more opportunities like this to generate some action to the feeds that we do there would be really big benefits.
“Painted dogs are notoriously quite difficult to manage in captivity because they are quite complex. So, if you have these activities that help to bond and strengthen relationships, it means you have a pack that’s more cohesive. When you don’t have a cohesive pack, you can start to see fights break out. Having these more natural activities means the dogs can interact with each other in a more natural way, and it benefits all of them.”
Mark Douglas is Editor of Lumen. Photos by Isaac Freeman, Lumen photographic editor, and main image of Kluet the orangutang supplied by Adrian Mann.