Method for distinguishing and determining number of individuals according to south-China subtype field video monitoring images of Chinese pangolin

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for distinguishing and determining the number of individuals according to South China subtype field video monitoring images of Chinese pangolin, and relates to the technical field of wild animal infrared camera video monitoring. According to the invention, high-definition video monitoring equipment is arranged in the South China subtype activity area of the Chinese pangolin, so that the activity image of the pangolin can be clearly captured. The video equipment has a night vision function so as to adapt to the night activity habit of the pangolin. In addition, the collected video images are preprocessed, including denoising, contrast enhancement, color correction and the like, so that the image quality is improved, and subsequent analysis is facilitated. According to the invention, a machine learning or deep learning algorithm is used to carry out individual identification on the preprocessed video image. This generally involves the extraction and analysis of appearance features (such as scale pattern, body size, color, etc.) of pangolin to differentiate different individuals. On the basis of individual identification, the number of pangolin individuals appearing in the video is counted. The method can be realized through an automatic counting algorithm, and can also be combined with manual auditing to improve the statistical accuracy. According to the method, individual identification is carried out through video monitoring, the population quantity monitoring efficiency is greatly improved, and the quantity statistics accuracy is also improved. The movement information of the pangolin can be obtained in real time, and timely data support is provided for protection work.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of wildlife infrared camera video monitoring, and more specifically to a method for distinguishing and determining the number of individuals of the South China subtype of Chinese pangolin based on field video monitoring images. Background Art

[0002] As a rare mammal unique to Asia, the Chinese pangolin has a unique habit of digging and foraging and is sensitive to the ecological environment, making it an important indicator species for assessing the health of the ecosystem. However, due to illegal hunting, habitat destruction and interference from human activities, the number of Chinese pangolins has dropped sharply and has been listed as an endangered species. Especially for the South China subtype, the number of individuals is scarce, and protection work is imminent. At present, the South China subtype of Chinese pangolins mostly adopts the cave statistics method. The cave within 300 meters is regarded as the same cave, and only one pangolin is counted in a cave. This method is suitable for large areas, small numbers, and low individual density. In the case of higher density, such as more than a few per square kilometer, there will be a large error. At present, there is no scientific method for identifying and counting Chinese pangolins through infrared camera video monitoring data in a small area of ​​high density. In order to scientifically and accurately evaluate and protect this rare species, it is particularly important to develop an efficient and reliable individual number monitoring method. Based on this, the present invention proposes a method for distinguishing and determining the number of individuals based on the field video monitoring images of the South China subtype of Chinese pangolin, aiming to provide data support for the protection of pangolins through modern technical means. This method also provides a basic method for automatic identification through machine training after large-scale individual recovery in the future.

[0003] The Chinese pangolin (especially the South China subtype) is a rare wild animal in my country, and accurate monitoring of its individual population is of great significance for protecting and restoring its ecological environment. However, due to the secretive nature of pangolins and their wide range of habitats, traditional survey methods such as line sampling and infrared camera monitoring have difficulty in obtaining accurate individual population counts.

[0004] The monitoring of the number of Chinese pangolins mainly relies on traditional field survey methods. Although it provides information on individual distribution and activity patterns to a certain extent, due to the secretive activity habits of pangolins and their frequent activities at night, traditional methods often fail to capture complete activity information, resulting in deviations in the estimation of individual numbers. In addition, traditional methods require a lot of manpower, material resources and time, and are limited by the experience and skill level of investigators, making it difficult to achieve large-scale, long-term continuous monitoring. Direct observation and other methods may interfere with the normal activities of pangolins and affect their survival status. Although infrared cameras are widely used in outdoor monitoring of mammals, such as leopards and sika deer, they have patch characteristics. However, pangolin scales are transformed from hair and are generally considered to have no patch characteristics. Therefore, in addition to using the simultaneous appearance of different individuals in the activity range of a certain period of time as the basis for individual identification and judgment, pangolin video monitoring lacks an effective method for distinguishing and identifying individuals based on the characteristics of the pangolin itself. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a method for distinguishing and identifying individuals based on the individual characteristics of the South China subtype of Chinese pangolin video surveillance image data. This method uses the characteristics of the South China subtype of Chinese pangolin in high-pixel infrared camera video data to carry out individual differentiation and identification, which has important practical value.

[0005] At present, cave counting and model prediction methods are mostly used in China to monitor the number of Chinese pangolins. Since the frequency of pangolins per unit area is low in most places, these methods are reasonable. However, if the frequency of Chinese pangolins per unit area is high in video monitoring, the error is large. It is urgent to identify and distinguish different Chinese pangolins based on individual characteristics, so as to achieve accurate individual counting. Summary of the invention

[0006] [Purpose of the invention]

[0007] The present invention solves the limitations of traditional monitoring methods through the pattern characteristics of adult pangolins, providing more accurate and efficient data support for the protection of pangolins. The implementation of this method will help improve the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring the number of Chinese pangolin individuals, and provide an important basis for formulating scientific and reasonable protection strategies.

[0008] [Technical solution]

[0009] To solve the above technical problems, this method selects 50 infrared cameras (480 million pixels) to be arranged in animal trails, water sources, foraging places, etc., or near traces of pangolin activities (feces, footprints, etc.) to specifically photograph pangolins.

[0010] During the study, the infrared camera captured a total of 153 photos and 167 videos of Chinese pangolins, including 38 independent valid photos and 77 valid videos.

[0011] The present invention sets high-definition video monitoring equipment in the activity area of ​​the South China subtype of the Chinese pangolin to ensure that the activity images of the pangolin can be clearly captured. The video equipment should have a night vision function to adapt to the nocturnal activity habits of the pangolin.

[0012] The present invention also performs preprocessing on the collected video images, including denoising, contrast enhancement, color correction, etc., to improve the image quality and facilitate subsequent analysis.

[0013] After careful observation of the video footage, we noticed that the pangolins had different colored markings on their bodies. There is speculation that these markings may be a temporary phenomenon caused by obvious substances such as grass and soil. However, by comparing and analyzing two videos of the same pangolin shot at different times under the high-pixel infrared camera, we found that these color blocks exist on the same pangolin for a long time and have obvious stability. Therefore, we concluded that these markings are preliminarily inferred to be pigments deposited on the pangolin's own scales. This feature allows us to accurately identify and distinguish this pangolin individual with unique markings.

[0014] Beneficial Effects

[0015] The statistical results will be analyzed to generate an individual population report, which should include information such as the number of pangolins in the monitoring area, their activity patterns, and their distribution, providing a scientific basis for protection and management work.

[0016] The age characteristics of pangolins were preliminarily determined through the video. Sub-adult individuals are small in size. In the color infrared camera video, the scales are bluish, uniform, and rarely spotted. The scales of adult individuals are generally black, and in the color infrared camera video, there are patches on the scales. The scales of elderly individuals are gray and yellow, with spots. Based on the above standards, 2 sub-adult Chinese pangolins, 18 adults, and 2 elderly individuals were counted, for a total of 22 individuals.

[0017] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that compared with traditional statistical techniques, this method uses video surveillance to identify individuals, which greatly improves the efficiency of individual quantity monitoring and the accuracy of quantity statistics. It can obtain pangolin activity information in real time and provide timely data support for protection work. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 It is a sub-adult pangolin.

[0020] Figure 2 It is a sub-adult pangolin and reflects light.

[0021] Figure 3 It is an adult pangolin with the characters "Le" and "Niu" on its left back.

[0022] Figure 4 It is an adult pangolin with 7 black spots along the spinal line on its tail and a peanut-shaped black spot in the center of its front back.

[0023] Figure 5 It is an adult pangolin with a black spot on its left front back and circular black spots on its left limb.

[0024] Figure 6 It is an adult pangolin that drills holes, is gray, and has the pattern of "cattle lock head" on its back.

[0025] Figure 7 It is an adult pangolin with three white spots on the right side of its back, and small black spots on the right side and middle of its tail.

[0026] Figure 8 It is an adult pangolin with an overall gray color and three rows of linear black spots on its neck.

[0027] Fig. 9 It is an adult pangolin with a black-and-white tail in an inverted "V" pattern.

[0028] Fig.10 It is an adult pangolin with a "Ji" character pattern, named the Yellow River, with obvious male characteristics.

[0029] Fig.11 It is an adult pangolin with black spots on its back and shoulders, and heavier black spots on the back, resembling the eight-tube of mahjong.

[0030] Fig.12 It is an adult pangolin urinating, with the characters "Shang" and a semi-circular black spot on its right back and no black spots on its neck.

[0031] Fig.13 It is an adult pangolin with a yellow spot behind its left ear and no linear black spots on its neck.

[0032] Fig.14 It is an adult pangolin with a "mountain" character pattern on its neck, named Shanzi.

[0033] Fig.15 It is an adult pangolin with three black spots on its tail. (There are three linear black spots on the tail as Fig.15 shown)

[0034] Fig.16 It is an adult pangolin entering a hole, with multiple irregular continuous black spots on its back.

[0035] Fig.17 This is an adult pangolin with a distinct black spot on the right neck. Fig.17 as shown).

[0036] Fig.18 This is an adult pangolin, with a uniform black body and a grayish tail. Fig.18 as shown).

[0037] Fig.19 This is an adult pangolin with a hat-shaped black spot on the right back of its body.

[0038] Fig. 20 This is an adult pangolin with an evenly black body and white stripes between the tail.

[0039] Fig.21 This is an old pangolin, with white scales all over. (Old, with a gray-brown body. Fig.21 as shown).

[0040] Fig. 22 Picking grass for the elderly pangolin. Specific implementation method (one by one, record size and location features, several rounds of comparison, one feature check

[0041] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] The present invention provides a method for distinguishing and determining the number of individuals of the South China subtype of Chinese pangolin based on field video surveillance images.

[0043] Example 1

[0044] 1Video Source

[0045] Infrared triggered cameras were placed at animal trails, water sources, foraging areas and other places as well as traces of pangolin activities (feces, footprints, etc.). A total of 50 infrared cameras were deployed specifically for photographing pangolins.

[0046] The age and number of pangolins can be preliminarily determined through the video. Sub-adult individuals are smaller in size, with bluish scales that are uniform and have few spots.

[0047] The scales of adult individuals are generally dark and have spots.

[0048] The scales of older individuals are gray or gray-brown and have spots.

[0049] Classify and observe the videos captured by the infrared camera, and it is found that there are very obvious patches in different parts between different individuals, such as special text-shaped patterns like "happy character pattern" and "several character pattern", and special graphics like cattle lock head, little bear, tadpole, triple star, and seven-star.

[0050] First, classify them preliminarily according to the position, shape, size, and color block weight of the markings. In cases where the markings are similar and cannot be judged, then make a comprehensive judgment by selecting two by two.

[0051] The results show that:

[0052] Based on the above criteria, 2 sub-adult Chinese pangolins, 18 adults, and 2 elderly ones are identified, with a total of 22. Those with less obvious characteristics require more observation data to determine.

[0053] Table 1 Age characteristics of pangolins

[0054] Its feasibility and universality have been verified in the video materials of multiple plots, all showing good application effects. Accordingly, the field video monitoring technology not only provides a powerful tool for the efficient estimation of the number of pangolins, but also lays a solid theoretical foundation for the in-depth development of pangolin protection and research work, and provides a practical guidance plan.

[0055] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to these embodiments shown herein, but rather to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for distinguishing and determining the number of individuals of the South China subtype of Chinese pangolin based on video surveillance images in the wild. It is characterized by Distinguish the individual characteristics of different pangolins to achieve accurate individual counting.

2. A method for identifying different Chinese pangolin individuals based on their individual characteristics (such as scale patch characteristics, body size, color, etc. in infrared camera videos) to achieve accurate individual counting. It is characterized by Avoid large errors due to high frequency of video monitoring of Chinese pangolins per unit area.

3. A method for obtaining pangolin activity information in real time and providing timely data support for conservation work. Using infrared cameras to identify different pangolin individuals can achieve large-scale, long-term continuous monitoring.

4. A method for preprocessing the collected video images, including denoising, contrast enhancement, and color correction. It is characterized by Effectively improve image quality and facilitate subsequent analysis.

5. A method for using high-definition video surveillance equipment with night vision function to adapt to the nocturnal activities of pangolins so as to clearly capture the activities of pangolins. It is characterized by Avoid interfering with the normal activities of pangolins and conduct monitoring without affecting their survival.

Images