Camera traps have been a key part of the conservation toolkit for decades. Remotely triggered video or still cameras allow researchers and managers to monitor cryptic species, survey populations, and support enforcement responses by documenting illegal activities. Increasingly, machine learning is being implemented to automate the processing of data generated by camera traps.
A recent study published showed that, despite being well-established and widely used tools in conservation, progress in the development of camera traps has plateaued since the emergence of the modern model in the mid-2000s, leaving users struggling with many of the same issues they faced a decade ago. That manufacturer ratings have not improved over time, despite technological advancements, demonstrates the need for a new generation of innovative conservation camera traps. Join this group and explore existing efforts, established needs, and what next-generation camera traps might look like - including the integration of AI for data processing through initiatives like Wildlife Insights and Wild Me.
Group Highlights:
Our past Tech Tutors seasons featured multiple episodes for experienced and new camera trappers. How Do I Repair My Camera Traps? featured WILDLABS members Laure Joanny, Alistair Stewart, and Rob Appleby and featured many troubleshooting and DIY resources for common issues.
For camera trap users looking to incorporate machine learning into the data analysis process, Sara Beery's How do I get started using machine learning for my camera traps? is an incredible resource discussing the user-friendly tool MegaDetector.
And for those who are new to camera trapping, Marcella Kelly's How do I choose the right camera trap(s) based on interests, goals, and species? will help you make important decisions based on factors like species, environment, power, durability, and more.
Finally, for an in-depth conversation on camera trap hardware and software, check out the Camera Traps Virtual Meetup featuring Sara Beery, Roland Kays, and Sam Seccombe.
And while you're here, be sure to stop by the camera trap community's collaborative troubleshooting data bank, where we're compiling common problems with the goal of creating a consistent place to exchange tips and tricks!
Header photo: Stephanie O'Donnell
Independent Researcher (Conservation Biologist)
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nature nerd, leopard and eagle lover
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Conservation Biologist; Research interest Human Dimensions on Wildlife Conservation and Conservation Tech
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Arribada Initiative
Senior Project Manager and Field Specialist
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I'm a wildife conservationist currently working in conservation Technology as a Data Technician. I'm very passionate about conserving wildlife and exploring more in the conservation world.
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- @NatsaniDube
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I am a skilled ecologist, animal scientist, conservationist, and environmentalist with experience in wildlife, ecological modelling, statistics, agriculture, and natural resource management. I aim to make a positive contribution to these fields through research and conservation.
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Passionate about wildlife and impact investment with an academic, research and practitioner background in environmental science, environmental law and green criminology pursued in Central America, China, Tanzania and the United Kingdom I am driven to decolonise the research on c
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Dedicated wildlife conservationist with over three years of hands-on experience in field research and conservation. Through extensive fieldwork i developed a strong foundation in various conservation techniques, including camera trap deployment, plant inventory methods.
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- @Venance
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As a wildlife conservationist, I am deeply committed to the Ecology and Community Development. I help communities balance conservation with livelihoods, promoting beekeeping with the motto “Shusha Shoka, Pandisha Mzinga (Drop the Axe, Raise the Hive).
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National Geographic Society
Experience utilizing technology to inspire, educate, and create solutions to some of our biggest challenges. Currently, head of the National Geographic Society Exploration Technology Lab, overseeing the development and deployment of research and storytelling technologies.
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I'm a wildlife ecologist with interests in a range of technology.
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Link
From Max Farrell on Twitter: "New paper comparing eDNA and camera traps for tracking waterhole visitation. We took pictures, analyzed DNA in drinking water, built a reference library for vertebrates in the Kruger, and...
19 September 2022
Funding
The European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+, co-funded by the European Union, has launched a call for research proposals on “Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and...
14 September 2022
Careers
At the Inria Sophia Antipolis - Méditerranée center. The project will pursue two different methodological goals: (1) explore the use of natural language bottlenecks describing visible traits or other visual...
1 September 2022
Careers
Conservation Technology Research Internship
Meredith Palmer
Boost cons tech capacity at an international NGO! Fauna & Flora International is offering a paid three-month internship to consolidate and share best practices for the application of emerging hardware and software...
26 August 2022
Careers
Postdoc in the application of AI for wildlife conservation & management
Tim R. Hofmeester
The Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies (WFE), SLU, Umeå, is looking for a postdoc with strong interests in wildlife conservation technology.
26 August 2022
Careers
Lead Software Engineer for ARISE
Chantal Huijbers
Job opening at ARISE, an innovative program in the Netherlands to build a digital infrastructure for biodiversity data and services
19 August 2022
Careers
Lead Software Engineer, Wildlife Insights
Nicole Flores
Are you creative, love new challenges and have experience developing software? The Wildlife Insights team is hiring! Join a diverse team of ecologists, data scientists, engineers and machine learning experts to protect...
10 August 2022
Link
Hi folks! I built out a human-in-the-loop annotation platform for Felidae Conservation Fund, a SF-Bay Area nonprofit last Fall using MegaDetector. I'm looking for feedback from this amazing community around areas of...
10 August 2022
Article
Tiger, Tiger, in the Night... Now Visible in Real Time
Stephanie O'Donnell
Press Release for International Tiger Day – July 29th, 2022: For the first time ever, wild tigers and their prey have been detected by AI-powered, cryptic cameras that transmit the images to the cell phones and...
5 August 2022
Careers
Wolverine Data Technician
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS Canada is seeking a Data Technician with a keen eye for detail to support its Wolverine Conservation Program. The Data Technician will be responsible for classifying wildlife photos taken with motion-sensor cameras...
29 July 2022
Careers
Two postdoc positions are now accepting applications for an NSF-funded project integrating data from museums, iNaturalist, and camera trapping data from the Snapshot USA annual survey.
11 July 2022
Careers
Snapshot USA Survey Coordinator
Stephanie O'Donnell
The Survey Coordinator is a 3 year role that will assist Program Managers in recruiting. training and retaining participants in a nation-wide camera trapping program
9 June 2022
June 2025
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Stephanie O'Donnell
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| Antoineede they are a mesh style of camera, one links to the other and then send pictures back to the home unit where you either send them via cellular or you check the sd card.... |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi Morgan! We're currently still working out the exact terms. Are there any specific concerns that you had? |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 5 months ago | |
| Hey Ellie-- Glad to see you getting started with this. I'll speak to the data-storage question, it might be worth it for you to do something like paying for extra... |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 7 months ago | |
| Thank Capreolus, for your feedback, did you try it where the cellular network is weak? Thank you. |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 8 months ago | |
| Camera traps are widely used for studying terrestrial animal populations. One method for estimating animal abundance from data collected by... |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 9 months ago | |
| Hi everyone, We're half an hour away from our special Ethics panel episode today at 11 AM ET / 4 PM BST, where... |
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Ethics of Conservation Tech, Camera Traps | 3 years 9 months ago | |
| @Freaklabs Akiba may be interested? |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 9 months ago | |
| My guess is that the camera triggering will prove to be far less of a challenge than getting ethical approval for penning livestock where predators can reach them. If you have... |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 9 months ago | |
| Hi everyone, We're excited to welcome Nicole Flores to Tech Tutors to walk us through getting started with Wildlife Insights! ... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools | 3 years 9 months ago | |
| Do you need the photos during the timelapse, or just all at once at the end? If the latter, how many exposures will you need per timelapse recording? Depending on your... |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 10 months ago | |
| Dear Anthony and Michal, Many thanks for the suggestions! Anthony, I have sent you a message through the site you linked to. I'd be interested to know more about the... |
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Camera Traps | 3 years 10 months ago | |
| Hi all, We're excited to welcome Siyu Yang to Tech Tutors to chat about getting started with Megadetector! For all you AI... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools | 3 years 10 months ago |
