AI-Powered Animal Recognition and Tracking via Drone-Based Thermal Imaging: A User-Centric Mobile Application

The integration of AI-powered drone monitoring with thermal imaging cameras enhances wildlife protection by enabling autonomous animal detection and classification. This paper presents a system based on YOLOv8 that processes thermal data from drones, allowing single-operator usage and eliminating the need for an on-site video analyst. Through collaboration with wildlife conservation experts, we identified key requirements for real-time data processing and developed a user-centric smartphone application for instant data visualization. This study advances current methodologies by demonstrating the practical application of AI and drone technology in wildlife conservation.