Artificial intelligence specialists from the University of Southampton are working with the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary to develop an app that will help identify individual donkeys.
The machine learning technology will allow visitors to use their smartphones to recognise specific donkeys in the herd. Supporters who have adopted a donkey will also be able to spot ‘their’ donkey more easily during visits.
Helping both humans and donkeys
The app, called Ask ELVIS (Equine Long-range Visual Identification System), honours one of the sanctuary’s original donkeys, Elvis, who died in 2024 at around 35 years old.
Alongside its use for identification, the AI system may also help detect early signs of health issues. Because donkeys are naturally stoic animals, it is often hard to spot when one is unwell. The hope is that the app could help alert staff if a donkey begins to move in an unusual or uncomfortable way.
Developed with expert care
Dr Xiaohao Cai, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, is leading development of the app with PhD student Pengcheng Fang and master’s student Yu-Cheng Lai.
Dr Cai said,
“The app will use AI technology to automatically identify individual donkeys.
“The AI recognition will identify individual donkeys from all angles – their faces, as well as from the side or behind.”
The team has already completed a preliminary version of the app. It includes an algorithm powered by a library of hundreds of images showing the sanctuary’s 108 donkeys from different viewpoints.
Why it matters
Gordon Pattison, trustee at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, explained the practical challenge the app aims to solve.
He said,
“The donkeys used to wear collars with their names on, but they weren’t safe or comfortable for them.
“Many donkeys don’t have distinguishing features, and they live in herds in our fields, so identifying individual donkeys can be challenging.”
Dr Cai added,
“It’s a really exciting project. It’s great to be working on something that’s beyond our own research and to be able to help such a fantastic charity as the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary.”
Expected by end of 2025
The app is expected to launch by the end of 2025, available for mobile phones.
Stephen Tobitt, General Manager at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, said,
“We’re absolutely delighted to be working with the University of Southampton on this project, which promises to revolutionise our visitor experience.”
Source: Southampton University
