Imagine walking through the lush wetlands of Mai Po Nature Reserve. Wildlife, large and small, roams all around you but is almost always unseen. Studying and monitoring Mai Po’s elusive creatures, like the Eurasian otter and its many other mammals, has always been a challenge; but the launch of WWF-Hong Kong’s “Smart Wetland 2.0” project marks a new chapter in wildlife monitoring in Mai Po.

The goals of this two-year initiative, funded by the Countryside Conservation Fund Scheme under the Countryside Conservation Office, are to protect the Reserve’s rich biodiversity and transform wildlife monitoring by leveraging cutting-edge technology that enhances management efficiency. Building on the success of its previous iteration, Smart Wetland 2.0 sets new standards for conservation by integrating various innovation and technology solutions that address the challenges of managing remote wetlands.

Launched in July 2024, the new monitoring network is driven by solar-powered camera traps and an artificial intelligence-assisted mammal identification system (“AI system”). The smart camera trap system aims to collect vital data with a reduced need for human intervention, streamlining wildlife monitoring while significantly improving data collection and analysis efficiency.

More than just improving management at the Reserve, the project aims to be a proof of concept for potential smart technologies that can enhance conservation efforts in remote areas. The hope is that Smart Wetlands 2.0 will establish a more effective system for tracking threatened species – a system that will benefit Mai Po and other wetlands across Hong Kong and the wider region.

Public awareness is another essential part of the project. By highlighting the Hong Kong countryside’s elusive wildlife, WWF-Hong Kong intends to inspire greater public appreciation of wetland conservation, fostering wider support for wetland ecosystems and shoring up a sustainable future for wildlife and habitats.

The project team’s hard work has been rewarding so far– one of the newly set-up cameras successfully captured footage of a Eurasian otter, and the AI system accurately recognised our animal friend in the video! The team is now focusing on further enhancement of the AI-identification feature.

As Smart Wetland 2.0 progresses, we continue to strive to transform the way we monitor and manage our wetlands – blending innovation, technology and a passion for conservation to protect nature for future generations.

‍

‍

Solar-powered camera traps capture crucial data without the need for constant human intervention

‍

Smart Wetlands 2.0 aims to create an effective monitoring system for threatened species, improve tracking their occurence and behaviours

‍

One of the newly set-up cameras successfully captured footage of a Eurasian otter, with the AI system accurately recognised its presence