What is the main goal of the AI ecological observation project at átoa?

The main goal is to develop AI and AI-powered solutions to track, record, and visualize the behavior of captive animals, helping to improve the aquarium's breeding environment and exhibits while also providing a valuable learning experience for student interns.

How can visitors participate in this research?

Visitors can participate by experiencing 'annotation,' which is the process of labeling animal behavior in videos, a crucial step for training the AI model. This allows them to contribute directly to the aquarium's research activities.

What are the benefits of this collaboration for átoa and Kobe Digital Lab?

For átoa, it helps overcome the challenge of manual data collection for animal behavior analysis, leading to better exhibit and environment improvements. For Kobe Digital Lab, it provides a practical and engaging AI development experience for their student interns, contributing to local talent development.

Which animals' behavior is being observed in this project?

The article specifically mentions capybaras as the animals whose behavior is being observed and annotated in this project.

How is animal welfare considered in the data collection process?

The data collection method is designed to minimize stress to the animals and impact on their environment, using ceiling-mounted cameras to record behavior without direct interference.

Visitors Enjoy Annotating Capybara Behavior Data: átoa x Kobe Digital Lab Holds First AI Experience Exhibition Allowing Participation in Aquarium Research (AI Ecological Observation Project Developed by Student Interns)

Published Mar 30, 2026 8:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 2, 2026 1:01 PM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

átoa and Kobe Digital Lab jointly hold their first visitor-participation AI ecological observation experience exhibition.

Kobe Digital Lab Co., Ltd. (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, President & CEO Shinichi Tamaki, hereinafter KDL), which develops AI-based systems, will hold its first trial exhibition in collaboration with the theatrical aquarium 'átoa' (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Director: Hiromi Nakayama, hereinafter átoa), allowing visitors to participate in an AI-based ecological observation demonstration experiment.

This exhibition is a special project to liven up átoa's 5th anniversary year. Through the exhibition, visitors can experience 'annotation (*1),' which is necessary for AI learning, and simultaneously participate in the aquarium's research activities in a new experiential exhibition.

Demonstration Experiment of AI-Utilized Ecological Observation átoa is engaged not only in the breeding and exhibition of marine life but also in ecological surveys and research. By analyzing the behavior of the animals under their care, they aim to improve the breeding environment and exhibits. However, there was a challenge: it was a significant burden for zookeepers to constantly observe and record animal behavior alongside their daily duties. Meanwhile, KDL accepts interns as part of its local Kobe human resource development and employment promotion initiatives. They faced the challenge of providing a more attractive internship environment for students.

As an initiative to solve both parties' challenges, a joint demonstration experiment began in April 2023. Using data actually acquired at the aquarium, KDL interns, under the guidance of KDL engineers, are developing AI and AI-powered solutions for tracking, recording, and visualizing the behavior of captive animals.

In the demonstration experiment, data is acquired in a way that minimizes stress to the animals and impact on the breeding environment. Cameras installed on the ceiling capture the capybara exhibit area, recording their daytime behavior on video. Based on this video, an AI model (*2) is being tuned to enable AI to distinguish and track the capybaras' positions and movements in real-time. What is necessary for this is 'annotation.'

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Source: PR TIMES
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Visitors Enjoy Annotating Capybara Behavior Data: átoa x Kobe Digital Lab Holds First AI Experience Exhibition Allowing Participation in Aquarium Research (AI Ecological Observation Project Developed by Student Interns)

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