🐼3.20 Panda Base AI: China’s First Real-Time Wildlife Surveillance Network—139 Solar AI Cameras Beat Old Tech

While traditional infrared cameras remain offline and outdated, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has launched a real-time ecological monitoring system using advanced shortwave technology.

This month, the AI and machine learning team (which is the department i’m working for— being a photo annotator for months) at the Chengdu Panda Base independently developed a wireless infrared camera system powered by solar energy and shortwave communication. The system enables near-instant transmission of wildlife activity—such as snow leopards patrolling or pandas foraging—directly to the lab.

139 low-power solar cameras have been deployed deep in the high-altitude forest. These cameras function in extreme weather, with stable operation lasting up to three years. The system eliminates the need for manual data retrieval, which is inefficient and outdated.

This marks a shift to 24/7 dynamic monitoring, allowing researchers to track animal movement in real time. It’s a milestone for ecological protection—zero delay, full coverage.