Imagine driving down a road where an AI system alerts you seconds before a capybara darts into your path. That’s the vision of Gabriel Souto Ferrante, a Brazilian computer scientist tackling one of his country’s grimmest environmental issues: roadkill. With an estimated 475 million vertebrate animals killed annually on Brazil’s roads, Ferrante’s AI-powered solution could be a game-changer. 🌍🤖
Brazil’s sprawling highways cut through biodiverse habitats, forcing wildlife into dangerous proximity with vehicles. Smaller species like armadillos and possums account for most casualties, but the ecological impact is colossal. \"It’s the biggest direct threat to our wildlife today,\" says Alex Bager, coordinator of the Brazilian Center for Road Ecology.
Ferrante’s system uses machine learning to detect animals near roads and send real-time alerts to drivers—think of it like Waze for wildlife. While still in development, the tech has sparked hope for balancing infrastructure growth with conservation. Could this be the start of a global roadkill revolution? 🦔🚦
