As part of Activity 1.3, WWF-Romania and the entire COOP4SAFE team have officially partnered with Sensing Clues, an international organization specialized in wildlife data collection, risk assessment, and early-warning systems. Together, we are developing a modern tool that will help detect and anticipate the presence of large carnivores in vulnerable areas, ultimately supporting faster and better-coordinated responses.
The system is built around the Cluey app, a digital platform and app that automatically notifies Intervention Units when real-time camera traps detect bears near residential areas. This enables a rapid response, helping teams prevent dangerous encounters between people and wildlife or any situation where animals could pose a threat to human safety or property.
Beyond alerts, the data collected through the system is processed using AI-based algorithms, which analyses movement patterns and generate predictions about where and when potential conflicts or presence might occur. This predictive model is essential for improving the efficiency of field operations, reducing unnecessary costs, and identifying the most suitable prevention measures to keep both communities and wildlife safe.
How the early-warning system works in practice
To function effectively, the system relies on three main components:
1. Field data input
Partners in Romania, Ukraine and Slovakia collect information from:
• monitoring cameras already installed in the field,
• tracks and signs observed during patrols,
• reports from communities or local authorities, incidents involving livestock or property.
These observations are uploaded into Cluey, where they become part of a shared data stream.
2. Automated analysis and risk detection
Sensing Clues’ platform processes the incoming data to:
• detect recurring wildlife activity near settlements,
• identify movement patterns of large carnivores,
• highlight zones with rapidly increasing risk,
• generate early-warning signals based on the behaviour of animals and the frequency of observations.
3. Alerts and communication
When early-warning criteria are met, the system can notify:
• field teams (WWF-Romania, County Association of Hunters and Anglers Maramures – AJVPS, Verkhovynskyi National Nature Park – NNPV rangers),
• local authorities,
• intervention units trained to respond in case of escalating risk.
This allows teams to act before a conflict takes place – by warning communities, deploying deterrents, or increasing patrols in strategic areas.
What we need to do to make the system work
The effectiveness of the early-warning system depends on several practical steps that the COOP4SAFE partners are currently implementing:
• ensure consistent data collection through patrols, camera traps, and citizen reports;
• train local teams (WWF, AJVPS, NNPV, Aevis) to use the Cluey app correctly and systematically.
• maintain and expand the network of monitoring cameras, which provide essential, real-time wildlife presence data;
• coordinate with local authorities so that alerts can be acted upon quickly;
• share information across borders, since wildlife movements do not follow administrative boundaries.
Together, these actions will allow the system to become a powerful tool for preventing conflicts, protecting local communities, and supporting a viable coexistence between people and wildlife across the Slovak – Romanian – Ukrainian region.
Photos: ©Matei Pleșa / WWF-Romania
