ColorVu Technology Supports Animals and Better Security at Beauval Zoo, France
It's not only people who can benefit from security technology—animals can, too. The Beauval Zoo in France turned to technology to help look after their animals, including sea lions and a recent panda mother, as well as her cubs.
The zoo is ranked the 4th most beautiful in the world and looks after more than 35,000 animals on 98 acres. When the time came to revamp their systems in the park, they turned to systems integrator SRTC, who used Hikvision cameras for the task. The zoo wanted to streamline their care of the animals, specifically to help monitor sea lions and pandas.
Zookeepers needed to be able to monitor the sea lions 24 hours a day. Specifically, they wanted to keep an eye on their rest times and their meals. They needed to be able to see the animals clearly wherever they were in their pen, which sometimes means peering into dark corners!
Monitoring pandas took on a different (and cuter) aspect when one of the pandas recently gave birth to twin cubs. This was a particularly joyful moment at the zoo because even though pandas are no longer officially endangered, they are still classified as vulnerable. In fact, the team had to wait until after the birth to install the cameras, since the zoo did not want to disturb the mother in gestation. Now, they need to keep an eye on the newborns. Since parts of the panda enclosures have poor lighting, the Hikvision cameras with ColorVu or DarkFighter technology provided excellent low-light imaging for 24/7 full-color to counter this.
Solution: Detailed, colorful images 24/7 with ColorVu Camera Technology
For the sea lions, SRTC installed 4 MP ColorVu Fixed Turret Network Cameras (DS-2CD2347G2), which are simple and effective. ColorVu technology provides a clear color image without disturbing the animals and it’s ideal for the medium focal range needed in the sea lions’ enclosure. 12 MP Fisheye cameras (DS-2CD63C5) were also installed to provide a view of their entire resting area.
The pandas required more intensive monitoring, so they used PTZ 32x DarkFighterX IR Network Speed Domes (DS-2DF5232X-AE3(T5)). DarkFighter X technology delivers a full-color image over long distances even in very low light conditions, down to 0.0005 lux. This makes it possible to identify the animals more precisely, allowing the vets to monitor care, diet, and activity, among other things. The high optical zoom PTZs make it possible to search for the smallest details on moving technical installations.
An added bonus for the Zoo was keeping an eye on their cable car system. The 24-car system takes up to 21,000 visitors daily across 2,550 feet of the zoo. Hikvision cameras help the operators see how many people take the cable car every day. This helps with planning and verifying that there are no people or obstructions on the lines so they can safely start operations in the morning.
Sylvain Spodar, Information Systems Director at the Beauval Zoo, says: "We are pleased with our new system which allows us to keep an eye on the animals more efficiently. Our animal [caretakers] are delighted with this qualitative evolution of the images they can get, and the new [Hikvision] cameras help them daily in their work."
The initial project was renovating the video security system in 2020. The team succeeded in identifying other technologies and gradually deploying them in the Zoo. In addition to the cameras, the zoo deployed the HikCentral video management software (VMS) and three NVRs, which together control all the cameras centrally and also provide video wall management with business intelligence.
Our environment and the animals we share it with need more attention than ever to survive and thrive. The application of technology to monitor their well-being is a welcome tool in the activities organizations like the Beauval Zoo carry out.
Click here to find out more about Hikvision low-light imaging.
*This blog was published initially on the Hikvision HQ website.