By Stuart Kerr, Technology Correspondent
Published: 30 July 2025
Last Updated: 30 July 2025
Contact: liveaiwire@gmail.com | Twitter: @LiveAIWire
Author Bio: About Stuart Kerr
Every year, billions of dollars are funnelled into the illegal wildlife trade, pushing endangered species closer to extinction. But from the dense forests of Kenya to global customs checkpoints, artificial intelligence is now being enlisted to hunt the hunters. Can code really outsmart a poacher?
The Digital Evolution of Conservation
AI has become a vital tool in the battle against wildlife trafficking, shifting conservation from reactive to predictive. Using machine learning models trained on vast environmental datasets, organisations are identifying poaching hotspots and anticipating illicit movements of animals and animal products.
In Kenya, thermal cameras powered by AI have revolutionised park surveillance. According to the World Wildlife Fund, FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) technology integrated with real-time analytics reduced night-time poaching incidents in certain reserves by over 90%. Rangers are no longer chasing shadows—they’re responding to algorithmically-detected heat signatures.
Eyes in the Sky and Brains on the Ground
Beyond boots on the ground, AI now operates from above. Satellite imaging and drone footage are being analysed with neural networks that flag suspicious patterns—vehicles parked outside park boundaries, unusual animal clustering, or movement along non-tourist paths. This method, once manual and time-consuming, is now autonomous.
The Wildlife Crime Technology Project highlights how AI and geospatial tech are used together to optimise ranger deployment. In countries with limited conservation budgets, knowing where to patrol can be the difference between prevention and tragedy.
From Forest to Airport: AI at Customs
Wildlife trafficking doesn’t end at the poaching site. Airports and border controls are now experimenting with AI to detect illegal shipments. Systems trained to scan X-ray images are flagging anomalies in luggage—horn-shaped objects, oddly packed containers, or organic matter hidden in false bottoms.
A UNODC report shows that technology-assisted interceptions increased by 24% between 2022 and 2024. While human customs agents still make the final call, AI is sharpening their instincts.
Pattern Recognition vs. Poacher Adaptation
The arms race isn’t just digital. Poachers are adapting—using burner phones, changing routes, and masking their heat signatures. AI must evolve too, learning from past encounters and recalibrating in real time.
As covered in AI Digitising Cultural Heritage, neural networks can detect subtle patterns across vast datasets. These same principles apply to wildlife crime. By analysing previous poaching timelines, route frequencies, and weather conditions, AI can forecast where illegal activity is likely to happen next.
Risk, Ethics, and Bias
AI is a tool, not a silver bullet. There are concerns about false positives, over-surveillance, and communities unfairly targeted by automated suspicion. The WWF's work and another WWF initiative stresses the importance of transparency in training data and building conservation models alongside local communities.
AI should enhance human judgement—not replace it. Rangers, community monitors, and ecologists remain vital for understanding nuanced animal behaviours, terrain realities, and cultural dynamics.
A Global Taskforce Built from Code
Wildlife crime is a cross-border enterprise. So is AI. Systems deployed in Africa are now syncing with databases in Europe and Asia. The goal: a real-time, cross-continent surveillance web against poaching.
As noted in AI Refugee Forecasting, coordinated AI efforts are shaping humanitarian response. The same can be done for biodiversity preservation.
The 2024 UNODC Chapter 2 Report recommends standardising AI tools across borders and investing in open-access models to ensure global cooperation.
Conclusion: Hunting the Hunters
AI will not end wildlife trafficking. But it can turn the tide. With algorithmic eyes watching vast wildernesses, and smart systems flagging threats before they happen, a poacher’s job is getting harder.
The jungle may not sleep, but soon, neither will the code that protects it.
About the Author
Stuart Kerr is the Technology Correspondent for LiveAIWire. He writes about artificial intelligence, ethics, and how technology is reshaping everyday life. Read more