While facial recognition technology continues to promote many aspects of human life, it’s now being applied to aid the protection of giant pandas, Xinhua News Agency reported on 6 January 2022.
A nature reserve has built an AI-enabled video monitoring system to better protect giant pandas. Installed with 300 infrared (红外线) cameras, the monitoring system helps ensure the health and safety of 110 wild giant pandas there. It was put into operation two years ago, and has captured (拍摄) numerous photos and videos of pandas engaged in activities such as eating, resting and fighting for mates. It provides scientific data to help us grasp pandas’ living conditions and establish conservation strategies. More importantly, it achieves real-time monitoring of the reserve so that we can discern the threats to the wildlife as early as possible.
A recent study found the facial recognition system can automatically recognize various wild animals caught in infrared cameras, allowing researchers to collect data on giant pandas while staying indoors. It’s shown that by equipping the AI-aided system to retain the filed photos of giant pandas, we obtain a 98% success rate for species recognition. Its success rate of recognizing other wild animals can top 80%. In 2021 alone, this monitoring system captured 2,896 photos of giant pandas and other rare animals and filmed 3,218 seconds of footage, showcasing the reserve’s sound ecological environment as well as a gradual rise in panda population there.
Head of the reserve’s administration, Liu Xingming, said researchers used the system not only to observe the dynamics and health of the giant panda population but also to learn about changes in the natural surroundings of their habitat. “The monitoring system has enabled systematic, scientific, and intelligent conservation of wildlife,” he added. “However, it is expected to be further improved and optimized in the near future.”
【小题1】What does the underlined word “discern” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Despair | B．Maintain | C．Suit. | D．Notice. |
| A．It precisely recognizes any species. | B．It makes panda population rise rapidly. |
| C．It contributes to species data collection. | D．It understands pandas’ facial appearance. |
| A．Critical. | B．Objective. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Conservative. |
| A．Panda Facial Recognition Using Database |
| B．Functions of Facial Recognition Technology |
| C．AI Technology for Better Panda Protection |
| D．A Breakthrough in Video Monitoring System |
