How facial recognition for bears can help ecologists manage wildlife

Recent advances in computer vision and other types of artificial intelligence offer an opportunity for facial recognition to apply to bears and other animals.

By: Emily Wanderer, University of Pittsburgh, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 7, 2026

Words: 1,243

Last Updated: 2 days, 7 hours ago

Body Text Preview

By Emily Wanderer, University of Pittsburgh

When a grizzly bear attacked a group of fourth- and fifth-graders in western Canada in late November 2025, it sparked more than a rescue effort for the 11 people injured – four with severe injuries. Local authorities began trying to find the specific bear that was involved in order to relocate or euthanize it, depending on the results of their assessment.

The attack, in Bella Coola, British Columbia, …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us