AI-Driven App Enhances Donkey Identification at Isle of Wight Sanctuary

Researchers from the University of Southampton have developed an innovative mobile application designed to assist visitors at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary in identifying individual donkeys using artificial intelligence (AI). The application, named Ask ELVIS (Equine Long-range Visual Identification System), is currently in development and aims to improve identification accuracy while potentially addressing health monitoring for the sanctuary's inhabitants.

The initiative originated from concerns regarding the safety and comfort of traditional name collars worn by the donkeys. Gordon Pattison, a trustee and volunteer at the sanctuary, stated, "There had been some accidents and near misses, so we got rid of all the collars in 2023. They are not of any use to the animal, but they are incredibly useful to the public."

The app functions by utilizing a database containing hundreds of photographs of the donkeys taken from various angles. According to Dr. Xiaohao Cai, project lead and researcher at the University of Southampton, the app currently demonstrates a modest accuracy rate of approximately 50%. However, he expressed optimism that further refinements will enhance its performance significantly by the year’s end. Dr. Cai commented, "At the moment we’re trying to bridge the gap between the experimental accuracy and the real-world accuracy."

The application not only serves to engage visitors but also represents a broader attempt to integrate technology into animal welfare practices. Visitors will be able to point their smartphone cameras at a donkey, after which the app will identify the animal and provide its name along with a link to a dedicated webpage for further information about its background and care.

The concept of utilizing AI in animal identification is gaining traction in various sanctuary settings. According to Dr. Emily Thompson, a veterinary expert at the Royal Veterinary College, "AI applications hold significant promise not just for identification but also for monitoring the health and well-being of animals, allowing caregivers to notice subtle signs of distress that might otherwise go undetected."

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, which allows visitors to adopt donkeys to support their care, has already attracted thousands of people eager to contribute to the welfare of these animals. Pattison noted that the sanctuary's efforts to phase out collars have been well received, and the introduction of the app aligns with their commitment to enhancing both animal welfare and visitor experience.

Looking ahead, the sanctuary hopes to collaborate further with the University of Southampton to explore how AI can also aid in health monitoring. Pattison explained, "The donkeys are very stoic. We have to look for subtle clues when they are unwell, and AI could potentially assist us in this area."

The development of Ask ELVIS exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can be adapted for smaller organizations and not just large enterprises. As Pattison stated, "The message is that AI isn’t just for big state enterprises. If you’ve got an idea, it can help you out—you just need to approach the problem from a different point of view."

Overall, the integration of AI into the operations of the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary signifies a progressive step towards improving animal care and enhancing visitor engagement, illustrating the potential for technology to impact various facets of animal welfare positively. As the app moves closer to public use, its anticipated benefits could set a precedent for similar initiatives in sanctuaries worldwide.