KASHMIR ROBOTICS/PROJECTS
PROTECT SNOW LEOPARDS
Protect Snow Leopards
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Why we need to Protect Snow Leopards
According to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Snow Leopards "Panthera uncia" are listed on the endangered species list. Snow Leopards only reside in the Himalayan regions of Central Asia with an estimated population between 4,500 - 7,500 distributed among 13 countries. Snow Leopards have increasingly come under pressure as a result of poaching for furs, loss of habitat caused by deforestation, conflict with local communities, and loss of food sources caused by similar environmental pressures.
Kashmir Robotics has discovered a need to develop snow leopard technology solutions for conservation and counter poaching in partnership with snow leopard conservation organizations, universities and government agencies in Central Asia. Kashmir Robotics application of deep learning and computer vision will enhance the efficiency and reliability of interpreting images from camera traps, integrating unmanned aerial robotics to expand coverage, and provide persistent imagery of snow leopard habitats.
Neural Networks and Computer Vision Take to the Skies
Dr. Ali, Director of Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan, Shihao Cao KwF Drone Engineering Intern and Princess Aliyah Executive Director KwF begin a collaborative partnership to protect snow leopards in Pakistan.
Princess Aliyah and Dr. Ali collaborating to educate and train researchers and biologists in Pakistan to build and use drones for monitoring snow leopard prey and habitat.
Dr. Ali takes his first test flight with KwF Drone Engineer William Hoganson in Front Royal, Virginia.
Dr. Ali, Director of Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan, Shihao Cao KwF Drone Engineering Intern and Princess Aliyah Executive Director KwF begin a collaborative partnership to protect snow leopards in Pakistan.
In partnership with Quad-i-Azam University through a collaboration with Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz, Director of the Snow Leopard Foundation in Pakistan, Kashmir World Foundation are working to develop new conservation technology for snow leopard monitoring and protection. These new methods of research will integrate mobile apps for data collection, artificial intelligence for processing and drones for monitoring these elusive snow leopards in their perilous terrain of the Himalayas. The goal of this project is to help researchers make more informed decisions about predator and prey in which technology will become a tool to help save lives, increase efficiency and range of research studies.
The Snow Leopard Foundation of Pakistan has 20,000 livestock vaccinated bi-annually through ecosystem health program 800 camera trap stations established to explore 30% of snow leopard range, 3000 livestock protected from mass killing through predator proof corrals, 300 field staff of Parks & Wildlife trained in wildlife surveys, 200 Ecosystem Health Workers trained to eliminate diseases in snow leopard range, and 50 postgraduate students engaged in research on snow leopards, prey species & ecosystem. In recognition for his incredible work with snow leopards in northern Pakistan, Dr. Nawaz was honored to be among the few selected for 2016's Whitley Award one of the most prestigious prizes in the world of nature conservation. Dr. Nawaz's work with snow leopards offers the best research data available of the high altitude cats in Pakistan.
The project relies on the collaboration of scientists, engineers and local communities. The four phases of the project each has its own challenges and accomplishments.
Estimated Snow Leopard Population
Earth's highest peaks that separate the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.
Survive in the pastures of Ladakh at 4,200 meters altitude, where temperatures plunge to as low as −20 °C.
It's not just a scarf, but a little bit of the Himalayas wrapped around you. Shop for yours at Kashmir Rose
Earth's highest peaks that separate the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.
 Mobile Data Collection AppKashmir Robotics is developing a mobile application for the setup, rebait, and take down of camera trap information collected from field studies. The Mobile App will allow field conservationists to enter and transfer data about each camera trap station to a desktop computer. The objective of this App is to gather accurate data, save time, and provide a variety of reports from the data entered for reporting purposes. |  Image Process A.I. PortalKashmir Robotics is designing and developing application of computer vision to enhance the efficiency and reliability of interpreting images from camera traps. The objective of this project will be to automate the current methods of classification and identification of images from camera traps in the field, thus saving time and manpower. |  Real Time Processing Camera TrapsKashmir Robotics will design and develop application of computer vision for deployment within camera traps and communications for reporting snow leopard sightings in real-time. The objective of this project will be to enable real-time responses to snow leopard camera trap data. |
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 Unmanned Aerial RobotsKashmir Robotics will develop & deploy UASs in snow leopard habitats for 3D maps. Robotic aircraft have the potential to efficiently, consistently, and cost effectively monitor vast areas. Useful data can be collected and processed regularly to provide researchers and conservationist with a more comprehensive and immediate understanding of the situation. This data can provide new insight into species habitats and used to make informed decisions about resource allocation in the field. |