Boosting our support for the critically endangered Korowai gecko

Auckland Zoo | 23 January 2024
Previously known as the ‘Muriwai gecko’, Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara have gifted this species the name Korowai gecko (Woodworthia korowai) after the whenua where it is found. It is currently known only from the western coastline from Muriwai to Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga/ South Kaipara Peninsula, with an isolated population on Oaia Island.

New artificial intelligence-driven pest trap could be game-changer for native species

Newshub | 11 September 2023
A new trap for pests driven by artificial intelligence is expected to be a game-changer in the fight to protect native wildlife. It can instantly tell friend from foe - only killing predators, while leaving indigenous animals and domestic pets alone.

Doctor Helen Blackie: Project lead on new Artificial Intelligence trap being added to New Zealand's predator-free campaign

NewstalkZB | 16 August 2023
Possums, rats and stoats beware - a new Artificial Intelligence trap is being added to New Zealand's predator-free campaign.

AI to help us hit our predator-free targets in the countdown to 2050

Stuff | 16 August 2023
Today marks 10,000 days until 31 December 2050 – the deadline of the ambitious goal to rid the country of three of the worst introduced predators devastating our native wildlife: possums, mustelids and rats.

Predator Free 2050: AI-powered pest-buster can pick kea from stoat

NZ Herald | 15 August 2023
An Artificially Intelligent Terminator is in development here in Aotearoa, but it is not quite the same in the movies. In a ground-breaking evolution in pest control, the new device uses AI to identify and kill an invasive species.

Rodents beware: AI device being developed in NZ to kill invasive species

RNZ | 16 August 2023
In rural Auckland and Coromandel, researchers have been testing out fully-automated, ultra-low power kill traps developed by Kiwi company Critter Solutions.

Products to projects second funding round

Predator Free 2050 | 2023
Cost-effective, intelligent cameras for predator surveillance will be developed and commercialised, based on CritterPic® imaging technology with real-time species identification. This will help projects overcome current camera limitations, including false triggers, neophobia, and high equipment and labour costs.

Animal photo booth sorts predators from prey using artificial intelligence

Stuff | 22 November 2022
An animal photo booth is using artificial intelligence to detect small and hard to find species – sorting pests from prey. CritterPic was designed as a monitoring and surveillance tool. Birds, mice, lizards, skinks and more have all taken their turn posing in the booth.

First funding round - EzyLure

Predator Free 2050 | 2022
Boffa Miskell Limited is developing, field testing and validating a low cost, open-source, automated system for dispensing lures to rodents, mustelids and possums.EZYLure dispenses an egg-mayo mix at pre-determined times and is designed to last for up to a year, drastically reducing the labour costs involved in rebaiting.

High-tech predator control solutions for today, not tomorrow

Predator Free NZ | 22 November 2022
Photo-booths for lizards, long-lasting lures, and a trap that can recognise what it’s caught – if you want creative, hi-tech yet practical solutions to predator control problems, talk to Critter Solutions.

AI solutions on the way for war on pest species

FEDS News | 17 June 2022
Traps and surveillance cameras using artificial intelligence (AI) will soon be joining the arsenal of tools available to achieve New Zealand’s ‘predator-free by 2050’ ambitions.

Supercharging critter control

RNZ | 5 August 2020
Dr Helen Blackie is leading efforts to supercharge Predator Free 2050 with solutions spanning engineering, creative design, animal behaviour and toxicology. But it's not easy with an estimated 68,000 native birds killed by introduced predators every night, costing conservation services millions.