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A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool can help predict and protect the migration routes of endangered caribou in the Arctic, according to a new report released on Thursday.

New research revealed that AI sea ice forecasting systems can help local agencies protect critical migration routes of caribou species, which are at risk of extinction.

The study, conducted by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute, WWF, and the Government of Nunavut, found that the technology could help prevent ice-breaking vessels from disrupting these routes during critical caribou migration periods.

It also ensures that caribou, a type of deer native to North America that is also known as reindeer in Eurasia, can safely travel south across areas of sea ice from their summer calving grounds.

The research, published in the Ecological Solutions and Evidence journal, combines satellite observations, GPS tracking, AI forecasting, and local expertise to create AI-informed migration early-warning systems for the Dolphin and Union caribou.

Ellen Bowler, a machine learning research scientist at BAS and lead author of the study, said many Arctic animals’ life histories and movement patterns are intrinsically linked to sea ice, which grows and retreats with the seasons.

"Climate change is causing Arctic sea ice to recede and become less stable, which also means the region is becoming more accessible for ships. This combination of threats could have fatal consequences for iconic animals like caribou," she noted.

Arctic warming at fourfold higher rate

The report warned that an increasing number of caribou are dying during these crossings due to poor sea ice quality and ice-breaking vessels, which pose an additional threat by creating open-water leads that could block critical migration routes.

To aid caribou conservation, the scientist created a model that combines caribou tracking data and satellite sea ice observations to establish links between sea ice formation and the timing of autumn migration.

"The AI then forecasts when sea ice conditions triggering the autumn migration will be met to give early warnings of peak migration times, which can be updated on an annual basis," added the report.

Scott Hosking, co-author and Mission Director for Environmental Forecasting at The Alan Turing Institute, pointed out that the Arctic is warming at four times the rate of the rest of the planet, resulting in rapid changes.

"In the hands of local conservation experts, and combined with their existing knowledge and practices, this tool could help mitigate the threats posed to wildlife and communities in the Arctic," he noted.