Digital Butterfly Conservation Program

 

There are over 200 butterfly species in Hong Kong, some species even exhibit different forms in the dry and wet seasons. It can be difficult to accurately identify butterfly species using only the naked eye and reference books. Therefore, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system is being introduced to establish a butterfly species identification database for Hong Kong. This will assist in monitoring and managing butterfly habitats for further analysis. In the long term, the system is expected to be used for public education and ecological research, thereby strengthening conservation efforts.

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The system is currently in its early stage and can identify ten species of danaid butterflies with a fairly high success rate. Once the system is fully developed, it will be made available to the public. By then, members of the public will be able to upload butterfly photos taken in the countryside and receive instant identification results and related information.