Leopards have unique roars, and AI can identify them [Video]

They say you can identify the leopard by its spots, but as it turns out, you can also identify it through its unique roar. Leopards, notoriously difficult to monitor due to their elusive nature, could soon be tracked using passive acoustic recorders paired with AI-based analysis.

Leopard populations face significant challenges, with their ranges shrinking by 80% due to poaching, habitat loss, and urbanization. Classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), leopards are in dire need of effective conservation strategies. Traditional tools like camera traps and GPS collars are useful but limited, particularly for a species known for its stealth and nocturnal behavior.

This is where passive acoustic monitoring comes in. The idea is to track individual leopards by using their unique roars.

Leopards don’t make spectacular roars like lions. They produce repeated low-frequency patterns, often audible for over a kilometer. These roars are primarily used to attract mates and to warn intruders that they are trespassing.

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