A trial utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly reduced the number of cassowary deaths on a busy road in Far North Queensland. The initiative, conducted by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), demonstrated a remarkable 31 percent decrease in fatal crashes involving the endangered birds over a three-month period on the Kennedy Highway at Kuranda, approximately 30 kilometres north-west of Cairns.
The AI technology proved to be 97 percent accurate in detecting cassowaries near the designated crossing. TMR’s Far North District director, Darryl Jones, emphasized the urgency of addressing vehicle strikes, which are the leading cause of death for the southern cassowary. “It is really important to try and identify how we can reduce that,” Jones stated.
Cassowaries and their chicks are commonly seen on the roads of the Cassowary Coast, where approximately two dozen have been killed in vehicle collisions last year. This innovative AI system, known as the “Large Animal Activated Roadside Monitoring and Alert System,” utilizes a camera to continuously monitor the environment. Once a cassowary is identified, the system sends a signal to a computer that activates flashing signs to alert drivers.
Jones noted that the technology resulted in drivers reducing their speed by an average of 6.6 kilometres per hour when the warning signs were activated. “Slowing down by even a few kilometres per hour can substantially improve reaction time, braking distance, and outcomes in the event of a crash,” he explained.
Expanding the Technology’s Reach
Veterinarian Graham Lauridsen expressed optimism about the trial’s success and its potential for broader application. He revealed that on average, a cassowary is hit by a vehicle each month in the area. “There was a large adult male hit at South Mission Beach back in May — he had two chicks with him and he’s one that became a fatality,” Lauridsen noted. He hopes to see the technology rolled out in areas where cassowary interactions are frequent, especially as the birds become more active from October.
Lauridsen suggested that existing mapping of cassowary crossings and frequent interaction areas could guide the technology’s deployment. “It will be really good to see how this technology, now we know it works, can be rolled out,” he said.
Community Reactions and Speed Limit Considerations
The Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery welcomed the AI intervention but also noted another factor contributing to the reduction in cassowary deaths: a decrease in speed limits from 80 kilometres per hour to 60 kilometres per hour on the Kennedy Highway due to roadwork repairs following Cyclone Jasper. Nursery secretary Jax Bergersen remarked, “Once the speed limit was reduced to 60, we haven’t had any deaths.”
Bergersen emphasized the ecological importance of cassowaries, stating they are vital for transporting large fruits within the rainforest ecosystem. She urged the implementation of the technology in areas like Carmoo, located approximately 250 kilometres south of Kuranda, where multiple cassowary deaths have occurred in an 80 kilometres per hour zone.
As discussions continue regarding funding and future deployments of this promising technology, the hope remains that AI can further protect these vital creatures and enhance road safety for all.
