A Free Platform Is Crowdsourcing Earth’s Biodiversity

With an estimated 10 million species sharing our planet, scientists have received a massive boost from a free mobile platform.

The iNaturalist app has grown into a global movement that allows anyone to identify and protect local wildlife.

Executive director Scott Loarie explains that the community has surpassed nine million users across nearly 200 countries.

To date, these citizen scientists have logged over 300 million observations and documented more than 557,000 species.

“Currently we have about six million people using the platform every month,” said executive director Scott Loarie.

The collective effort often leads to remarkable findings, with Loarie noting that a new species is described almost every month.

One famous discovery involved a man in the Andes who photographed a rare Colombian weasel sitting on a toilet.

“He grabs his camera,” Loarie recalled.

“The first-ever photographs of these species… and they happen to be sitting on a toilet.”

Quick Smiles:

• The app serves as a powerful scientific tool used by millions monthly.
• Users have documented over 557,000 unique species worldwide.
• Photos of the Colombian weasel became a viral scientific breakthrough.

Explore the natural world around you and contribute to global research by downloading the app today.

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