Tibetan Bears and AI-controlled Machines with Chilli Pepper Spray
Tibetan bears can get a bit too close to people and built-up areas
FLPA / Alamy Stock Photo
Incidents between people and Tibetan brown bears (Ursus arctos pruinosus), also known as Tibetan blue bears, on the Tibetan Plateau are on the rise. This increase in conflicts could be attributed to various factors, including the impact of climate change on the bears’ natural habitat.
Researchers have proposed a solution involving AI-controlled machines equipped with chilli pepper spray to mitigate confrontations between bears and humans. While this innovative approach shows promise in reducing bear-related incidents, there are concerns that the bears may eventually learn to avoid these machines, leading them to seek food sources in residential areas and rubbish dumps.
Climate change is believed to be altering the traditional territories of Tibetan brown bears, pushing them closer to human settlements. As a result, these bears may resort to killing livestock, damaging property, and posing a threat to human safety. Implementing AI technology to manage human-bear interactions is a step towards ensuring the safety of both species.
