A group of young engineers and researchers from Karachi has introduced an artificial intelligence-powered mobile application designed to support farmers in safeguarding their livestock during floods. The app, named Animal Passport, offers a free-of-cost service across Pakistan, providing farmers with a digital solution to trace and recover animals displaced during natural disasters. With floods causing widespread disruption in rural communities year after year, the application seeks to fill a critical gap by offering a formal mechanism for livestock identification and recovery.
Each monsoon season brings devastating rain-induced floods, sweeping away thousands of animals as families are forced to relocate to higher ground. For many farmers, livestock represents their primary source of livelihood, and the loss of cattle during such disasters often results in severe financial hardship. In the absence of structured identification systems, recovering lost animals has historically been an uphill battle, leaving many without compensation or support. The Animal Passport app attempts to address this long-standing issue by leveraging artificial intelligence to create unique biometric profiles of animals based on their nose prints.
The application generates a digital identity for every registered animal by capturing the distinct pore patterns found on its nose, much like a fingerprint for humans. Farmers can register their cattle by uploading details such as name, contact number, address, and the animal’s age, gender, and colour. In situations where livestock becomes displaced or separated, the app can match a found animal with its registered owner with high accuracy. According to the development team, trial runs of the platform have shown a 99.9 per cent success rate, provided that the animal’s nose is dried properly before scanning to ensure clarity in the image capture.
Abdul Basit Qureshi, founder of Global Animal Passport, explained that the app was launched free of charge to serve farmers in flood-prone regions. He noted that the timing of the initiative is particularly important as Sindh braces for a super flood while parts of Punjab have already been hit by heavy rainfall and destruction. He urged farmers to register their livestock in advance, explaining that preparation now could save significant losses during evacuation or displacement. “This is our contribution to the farming community. We want farmers to protect their livestock before floodwaters strike,” he said.
So far, over 10,000 animals have been registered through the platform, reflecting growing adoption of the technology in rural areas. The initiative is being viewed as an important step in applying digital innovation to agriculture and disaster resilience, showing how AI-driven tools can provide practical benefits for vulnerable communities. By combining local expertise with accessible mobile technology, the Animal Passport app is helping farmers strengthen their ability to withstand natural disasters and safeguard livelihoods tied closely to livestock.
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