Why we do this
“This is an inspiration quote from you.” - Your Name, Project Leader
I want to know more
How it works
Photograph the ID area
Each animal has an individual fingerprint: its unique pattern of spots behind the eyes. Get an image or video of their “spots”, and we can match that pattern to others already in the database, or your shark might be completely new to the database.
Submit photo/video
You can upload files from your computer, or take them directly from your Flickr or Facebook account. Be sure to enter when and where you saw the animal, and add other information, such as species or sex, if you can. You will receive email updates when your animal is processed by a researcher.
Researcher verification
When you submit an identification photo, a local researcher receives a notification. This researcher will double check that the information you submitted is correct (so don't worry if you are unsure about which species you saw!).
Matching process
Once a researcher is happy with all the data accompanying the identification photo, they will look for a photo match, sometimes using a computer vision algorithm. The algorithm is like facial recognition software for animal paterns.
Match Result
The algorithm (or manual comparison) provides researchers with a ranked selection of possible matches. Researchers will then visually confirm a match to an existing animal in the database, or create a new individual profile.
