S
About
Flukebook is a specialized AI-driven wildlife identification platform built for cetacean conservation and research. Developed on the Wildbook framework, it applies advanced machine learning algorithms—including PIE, HotSpotter, CurvRank, and OC/WDTW—to automatically detect and individually identify whales and dolphins from photographic submissions. The platform works in three key stages: first, deep learning models locate individual animals within photos and classify their species; second, neural network algorithms generate unique digital "fingerprints" for each animal based on distinctive physical features like fluke edges, fin contours, and body coloration; third, matched individuals are compiled into population datasets that enable migration modeling, population sizing, and long-term tracking. Flukebook currently supports fully automated identification for humpback whales, sperm whales, orcas, bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, right whales, fin whales, humpback dolphins, and more. Researchers can upload encounter reports, run bulk imports, and collaborate across institutions globally. Citizen scientists can contribute photos through encounter submissions, dramatically scaling data collection beyond what any single research team could achieve. With over 2 million photos, 503,000 reported sightings, and 92,000 identified individuals, Flukebook is one of the world's largest collaborative marine mammal databases. It is free to use, supported by donations, and open source via GitHub, making it ideal for marine biologists, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Individual Identification: Uses multiple algorithms (PIE, HotSpotter, CurvRank, OC/WDTW) to generate unique digital fingerprints for individual whales and dolphins based on fin edges, fluke coloration, and body markings.
- Multi-Species Support: Fully automated computer vision identification across 8+ cetacean species including humpback whales, sperm whales, orcas, bottlenose dolphins, right whales, and more.
- Citizen Science Collaboration: Allows citizen scientists to submit encounter reports and photos, massively scaling research data collection beyond the capacity of individual research teams.
- Population Dynamics Modeling: Aggregates individual tracking data to model population size and migration patterns, enabling rapid, evidence-based conservation decision-making.
- Bulk Import & Research Tools: Supports bulk photo imports, encounter search, individual galleries, sighting calendars, and collaborative project management for professional research teams.
Use Cases
- Marine biologists tracking individual humpback or sperm whales across ocean basins to study long-distance migration and social behavior.
- Conservation organizations monitoring endangered right whale populations to assess recovery progress and detect threats.
- Citizen scientists and wildlife photographers contributing encounter photos to a global cetacean database during boat tours or dive trips.
- Academic researchers collaborating across institutions to build large-scale population models for multiple dolphin and whale species simultaneously.
- Government agencies such as NOAA using aggregated sighting and identification data to inform fisheries and marine protected area policy.
Pros
- Completely Free to Use: Flukebook is freely accessible to researchers and citizen scientists alike, lowering the barrier to participation in marine conservation.
- Massive Collaborative Database: Over 2 million photos and 503,000 sightings make it one of the world's largest cetacean databases, enabling cross-institutional and international research collaboration.
- Open Source & Transparent: The platform's code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing researchers and developers to inspect, contribute to, and build upon the technology.
- Multi-Algorithm Accuracy: Employs multiple complementary AI algorithms per species, increasing identification accuracy and reducing the need for manual review.
Cons
- Narrow Species Scope: Automated identification is currently limited to cetaceans (whales and dolphins), making it unsuitable for other marine or terrestrial wildlife research.
- Photo Quality Dependency: AI identification accuracy is heavily dependent on the quality and angle of submitted photographs, which can vary significantly with citizen science contributions.
- Learning Curve for New Users: The platform's full suite of research tools—bulk imports, encounter management, individual tracking—can be complex for first-time users unfamiliar with wildlife databases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Flukebook identify individual whales and dolphins?
Flukebook uses computer vision algorithms and deep learning neural networks to create unique digital fingerprints for each animal based on distinctive physical features such as fluke trailing edges, fin contours, and body coloration patterns. These fingerprints are then compared across the database to match individuals across multiple sightings.
Is Flukebook free to use?
Yes, Flukebook is completely free to use for both professional researchers and citizen scientists. The platform is supported by donations and is also open source, with its code available on GitHub.
Which species does Flukebook support?
Flukebook currently supports fully automated identification for humpback whales, sperm whales, orcas, bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, right whales, fin whales, and humpback dolphins, with more species being added over time.
Can citizen scientists contribute to Flukebook?
Absolutely. Citizen scientists can submit encounter reports and photos through the platform's web interface, contributing to the global database of cetacean sightings and helping researchers track individuals across wider geographic ranges.
How does Flukebook support conservation efforts?
By enabling fast, scalable individual identification, Flukebook allows researchers to track population sizes and migration patterns over time. This data directly informs conservation decisions, such as identifying critical habitats and monitoring the impact of human activities on whale and dolphin populations.
