Thousands of global volunteers join Leipzig University’s “Iguanas from Above” project to protect a unique reptile species using drone imagery.
In a groundbreaking citizen science initiative, nearly 14,000 volunteers worldwide joined forces to help count endangered Galapagos marine iguanas using aerial drone images. The project, titled “Iguanas from Above”, is led by Dr. Amy MacLeod from the Institute of Biology at Leipzig University, Germany.
Through an online survey hosted on the Zooniverse.org platform, participants reviewed over 1.3 million data points by analyzing drone-captured images of iguana colonies. Each photo was evaluated by at least 20 independent reviewers, showcasing the power of community involvement in biodiversity conservation.
Why This Project Matters
The Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is the world’s only sea-going lizard, found exclusively on the Galapagos Islands in the eastern Pacific. Until now, conducting a comprehensive population survey of this elusive species was nearly impossible due to the inaccessibility of many colony sites.
By leveraging drone technology and crowdsourced image analysis, the Leipzig University team developed a cost-effective, scalable, and accurate method for wildlife monitoring in remote areas. According to Dr. MacLeod, the approach “not only speeds up data collection but also empowers ordinary people to contribute to cutting-edge conservation science.”
Drones + Citizen Science = A New Era for Wildlife Research
The project uses drones launched from land and boats to capture high-resolution images of marine iguana habitats. These images are then uploaded to the Zooniverse platform, where citizen scientists are tasked with identifying and marking individual iguanas.
Despite some challenges with image clarity and the complexity of visuals, the aggregated results from the volunteers were consistent and reliable. Many participants completed thousands of classifications, highlighting their dedication and enthusiasm.
Key Outcomes and Future Plans
The research team has published their findings in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports (2025) under the title: “Citizen scientists reliably count endangered Galápagos marine iguanas from drone images.” The study demonstrates that citizen science is not only viable for data collection but also effective in data analysis, previously a time-consuming task left to professionals.
Dr. MacLeod noted that while AI-based image analysis is being explored for future surveys, current tests show that human volunteers still outperform AI in identifying marine iguanas in complex visual environments.
The team is also working on refining data aggregation methods, comparing volunteer outputs with expert surveys to ensure statistical accuracy. Their ultimate goal is to complete the first full population survey of the Galapagos marine iguana by early 2026, contributing vital data for the IUCN Red List update and long-term conservation efforts.
Broader Impact on Conservation
“Iguanas from Above” is a leading example of how technology and public engagement can revolutionize ecological monitoring. The methodology has broad applicability to other endangered species and hard-to-reach habitats, setting the stage for AI-assisted conservation in the near future.
Furthermore, the researchers are actively sharing feedback from volunteers to improve future citizen science projects, fostering a more inclusive and informed conservation community.
More Information:
Scientific Reference:
Varela-Jaramillo, A., MacLeod, A., et al. (2025). Citizen scientists reliably count endangered Galápagos marine iguanas from drone images. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-08381-9
Project Platform:
🌐 Zooniverse – Iguanas from Above
Provided by: Leipzig University, Germany