Turtle Face ID

TurtleFaceID is an innovative AI project currently in development, aimed at revolutionizing the monitoring of sea turtle populations. Utilizing the power of triplet loss and trained on the CONVNEXT_SMALL architecture, this project represents a collaboration with Fruit Punch AI and STCB, as part of their “AI for Turtles” challenge. The software is designed to identify sea turtles based on their unique facial scales, much like human fingerprints, which will greatly assist in non-intrusive population monitoring.

This initiative is particularly focused on data collected in the Caribbean, especially in Bonaire, known for its populations of loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles—all of which are endangered species. The current methods of tagging and monitoring these turtles are often invasive and costly. TurtleFaceID promises a more efficient and less intrusive way of tracking individual turtles using photo and video data.

In Bonaire, efforts for sea turtle conservation include the establishment of protected nesting areas and the promotion of responsible tourism practices. The introduction of TurtleFaceID into these conservation efforts will enable more effective monitoring and protection of these endangered species. By identifying and tracking individual turtles, conservationists can gain valuable insights into population sizes, migration patterns, and the overall health of these species. This technology also opens up possibilities for broader applications in wildlife conservation, offering a template for similar initiatives in other regions and with other species.