Innovating new tools and technology for Predator Free 2050

By Nehara Pandey for the Department of Conservation

To reach the goal of Predator Free by 2050, we will need a smart set of tools and technologies. Roisin takes us on an exploration of innovation in Predator Free 2050.

Predator Free 2050 is a bold ambition to eradicate harmful predators (rats, stoats, and possums) from all of Aotearoa New Zealand so that native plants and animals can thrive. It’s a world-first goal, there is no manual to follow and we’ll need some serious innovation to grow the toolbox to achieve a Predator Free Aotearoa. 

DOC’s Tools to Market project manager Roisin works to ensure funding and support for developing innovations that could make Aotearoa predator free. The programme supports designers, scientists, inventors and engineers across Aotearoa New Zealand to develop new tools and technology for predator eradication.

Roisin brings a deep connection and commitment to nature to all the work she does. Growing up near an endangered red squirrel reserve in England, she witnessed first-hand how invasive species can destroy the lives and homes of native animals.

After moving to New Zealand, she dove headfirst into the conservation scene. She trapped predators, monitored birds, and worked as a ranger. She loves banding kororā little blue penguins each spring on Matiu/Somes Island (even with their sharp nipping beaks!).

Roisin worked on developing predator traps for six years before joining the team at DOC. She was thrilled when the Predator Free 2050 goal was announced in 2016.

“It was such an exciting moment as it felt like it would really kick start a social movement to get more people on board and drive this work”, she explained. The bold goal gave new purpose and energy to her work refining traps and methods to save native species.

Her team supports fascinating projects that could turn the tide against invasive predators. Some of these projects include heavy-lift drones that will be capable of carrying up to 200kg of bait, cameras that use thermal imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to identify predators and notify people, and improvements on the lure and bait methods that we currently use.

Biodegradable aerially deployed rat traps from Goodnature are one of the many exciting tools that Tools to Market is helping fund. These tiny traps will potentially be an excellent cost-effective solution for suppressing rats across large landscapes.

“The biggest potential benefits to these traps are that they will be able to be aerially deployed, are non-toxic and will biodegrade after use.”

There are currently no tools that do all that. Roisin stresses that adding a variety of options to our toolkit gives us a better chance at eradicating introduced predators.

Although they are still in the early stages of development, these aerial traps are an example of searching for creative solutions to predator control across New Zealand.

Roisin shares why innovation is such an incredible field to work in.

“Working at the cross-section of design, engineering and science is a really exciting space. I enjoy working with creative people who can imagine a blue-sky future vision that initially might sound totally unfeasible. Yet they drive these ideas forward and find a way to make them work. I’m constantly impressed by the possibilities of new technology and science.”

But innovating new products also has big challenges.

New products must pass through many “gates” to get to the finish line of a final product on shelves. These gates are important because they ensure that products are thoroughly tested and meet high standards of effectiveness. Tools to Market has these strict standards to ensure products are high quality and meet the needs of people working on predator free projects.

But it also means that some products don’t make it to the finish line. Even if a tool doesn’t turn out to be a viable solution, the lessons learnt still help advance knowledge and future tools that can change the game for nature.

A project that Tools to Market recently supported to cross the finish line was the development of a new thermal AI camera with The Cacophony Project. The Tools to Market funding enabled them to redesign and improve their existing thermal camera, reducing both the cost and power needs.

The AI thermal camera is able to detect and identify predators and automatically upload recordings to a cloud database, notifying users remotely and in real-time. The tool is already being used in the field by a range of Predator Free groups. Two DOC AI CAM cameras are being used in the incursion response underway on pest free Motutapu in the Hauraki Gulf after a rat was spotted and are proving an efficient tool for monitoring.

Although tools to market invests in a broad range of tools, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact tools we’ll use to achieve Predator Free 2050. “There may be tools that exist in 25 years that we may not even be able to imagine, there could be technologies that we aren’t even considering yet.”

Certain areas of innovation are showing signs of promise. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in monitoring tools, smart traps, highly accurate drones, and the DNA and genetic space may be the next step forward. But only time will tell.

As new tools become available, people like DOC rangers, predator control professionals, and community groups will play a significant role. With their expertise, they can help identify any additional tweaks tools need and move the iterative innovation process forward. 

Innovation isn’t just about tools; people play a significant role.  “To me, one of the most impressive parts of Predator Free 2050 is that it has been a massive social driver for getting more people involved and having a much higher level of engagement towards achieving the goal.”

With the efforts of active communities and exciting innovations going hand in hand, we can create an Aotearoa where our native plants and animals can flourish.