09-08-2025
'Amazing' change on notorious stretch of highway as new AI camera trialled
A new, self-learning AI camera is helping to make a notorious stretch of road in Far North Queensland a lot safer for both humans and wildlife. A five-month trial of the futuristic technology at a known southern cassowary crossing helped to reduce the number of bird deaths by an incredible 31 per cent.
The Large Animal Activated Roadside Management and Alert [LAARMA] system was installed on the Kennedy Highway near Kuranda – about 30km northwest of Cairns – and would detect a cassowary on the road and immediately alert approaching drivers via an electronic sign.
The sign would show an image of a cassowary with the words: "Cassowary detected".
The warning message would tell drivers, in real time, that the endangered bird was ahead, prompting drivers to slow down by an average of 6.3km/h – a 10 per cent reduction in speed in the 60km/h zone.
"This is a significant speed reduction. Slowing down, even by a few kilometres an hour, can substantially improve reaction times, braking distances and outcomes in the event of a crash," a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson told Yahoo News.
By the end of the trial, LAARMA was able to detect cassowaries with 97 per cent accuracy.
"Unlike older systems that need to be reprogrammed or trained by humans, LAARMA uses AI to learn on its own. Every time it saw a cassowary, it remembered how it looked – whether it was in shadows, behind trees or moving fast," the spokesperson said.
"Only displaying the warning message when cassowaries are in the area also overcomes 'warning fatigue' associated with static signage."
As the system uses a self-learning model, it's possible that it could be used to detect other animals or even people in the future, potentially offering further protection for other endangered species and improved safety around schools.
Since the completion of the "amazing" trial, the cameras have been removed, though Transport and Main Roads are exploring how the technology could be rolled out in other parts of the state.
In 2024, close to two dozen cassowaries were killed in road strikes, according to Queensland's Department of Environment.
Only two cassowaries survived a collision in the same period, highlighting the devastation road accidents can have on the bird's local population.
Famed cassowary lost chicks to vehicle strikes
One well-known cassowary, affectionately named Elvis by locals, lost five of his chicks to car strikes between 2020 and 2021 on the Kennedy Highway. Each chick was hit at the same part of the road
Recently, a juvenile cassowary died after ingesting fishing line at Coquette Point near Innisfail. X-rays showed a fishing hook firmly lodged in the bird's internal organs.
The find prompted rangers to urge fishers to remove bait from hooks after fishing, and dispose of any unwanted tackle properly.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
