Key facts
- AI-powered doorbell cameras are being tested to alert people to approaching polar bears.
- The technology is called Bear-vision and aims to reduce dangerous human-polar bear encounters.
- The system is being tested at a waste facility in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
- Polar Bears International is developing the technology to address increased encounters due to climate change.
Scientists are testing AI-powered doorbell cameras, dubbed Bear-vision, to provide an early warning system for approaching polar bears. This technology aims to reduce dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. The system combines radar and cameras to detect and monitor animals. The first deployment is at a waste facility in Churchill, Canada, a region where polar bears gather as ice loss delays their hunting season. Polar Bears International is also researching other non-lethal deterrents, including drones and specialized bear spray.