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
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World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
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- @ldbraunholtz
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(Tropical) forest ecologist w interest: biodiversity, camera traps, community led conservation & more. Passionate about inclusive nature for all.
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- 10 Groups
- @Riley
- | she/they
I'm a Data Scientist at Western EcoSystems Technology. I am interested in AI processing and statistical modeling of acoustic data and camera trap and drone imagery.
- 3 Resources
- 5 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- @Gathoni
- | Her/she
PhD Candidate at Nottingham Trent University, UK. Ecologist with a passion for wildlife conservation and conservation technology with foundational training in BSc and MSc Rangeland Management (Ecology option). Current project: Use of acoustics to monitor ecosystem restoration.
- 5 Resources
- 8 Discussions
- 8 Groups
- @parlaynu
- | he/him
software engineer
- 0 Resources
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- 13 Groups
- @moorerp
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Oregon State University
Avian/Conservation ecologist at Oregon State University and Wildlife Corridors (in Patagonia, Arizona, USA)
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- 3 Discussions
- 3 Groups
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
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- 0 Discussions
- 1 Groups
- @AlexBats
- | she/her
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- 6 Groups
Wildlife Protection Solutions (WPS)
Director of Technology at Wildlife Protection Solutions. Primarily focuses on leveraging machine learning and advanced data analytics to combat poaching, monitor biodiversity, and predict environmental threats.
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- 5 Groups
Arribada Initiative
Director at Arribada, a UK-based conservation technology research & development organisation
- 2 Resources
- 101 Discussions
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- 4 Groups
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- 13 Groups
Link
Did someone read/know this book?
9 February 2025
Article
INSTANT DETECT 2.0 - ALPHA TESTING
Sam Seccombe
The worst thing a new conservation technology can do is become another maintenance burden on already stretched field teams. This meant Instant Detect 2.0 had to work perfectly from day 1. In this update, Sam Seccombe...
28 January 2025
Link
Collaring Elephants and Post Release Monitoring
Kasi Amor Kalande
This leads to an exciting blog we did recently, it also includes a spatial map indicating elephant movement tracks of an orphaned elephant who self released himself into the wild (Kafue National Park). Cartography was...
28 January 2025
Article
INSTANT DETECT 2.0 – THE OPTIMISATION YEARS
Sam Seccombe
The Zoological Society of London's Instant Detect 2.0 is the world's first affordable satellite connected camera trap system designed by conservationists, for conservationists. In this update, Sam Seccombe describes the...
21 January 2025
Careers
The Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies (WFE), SLU, Umeå, is looking for a postdoc with strong interests in wildlife conservation technology.
15 January 2025
Article
Announcement of Project SPARROW
Zhongqi Miao
SPARROW: Solar-Powered Acoustics and Remote Recording Observation Watch
18 December 2024
Careers
Postdoc on camera trapping, remote sensing, and AI for wildlife studies
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies (WFE), SLU, Umeå, is looking for a postdoc with strong interests in wildlife conservation technology. She/he will work within Big Picture, a European project...
18 December 2024
Careers
Postdoc on camera trapping, remote sensing, and AI for wildlife studies
Tim R. Hofmeester
Fully funded 2 year position within a Biodiversa+ funded project
16 December 2024
Link
AmazonTEC: 4D Technology for Biodiversity Monitoring in the Amazon (English)
Elsa Carla De Grandi
Interesting webinar on the use of advanced technologies(e.g. Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, drones, camera traps and satellites) for biodiversity monitoring in the Amazon. Also available in Spanish.
25 November 2024
Article
Apply Now: AI for Conservation Office Hours 2025
Jake Burton and 1 more
Are you stuck on an AI or ML challenge in your conservation work? Apply now for the chance to receive tailored expert advice from data scientists! The deadline for applications is Monday 9 December 2024.
13 November 2024
Article
📢Declas - New Open-Source Tool for Camera Trap Data🎉
Stanislas Mahussi Gandaho
Managing large volumes of camera trap data can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when it comes to detecting and classifying wildlife. To tackle these challenges, Declas v1.0.0 has been released—an open-...
30 September 2024
August 2025
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Riley Knoedler
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Louisa Richmond-Coggan
September 2025
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Louisa Richmond-Coggan
February 2023
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Netty Cheruto
November 2022
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Len Thomas
September 2022
August 2022
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloha Luke,This is an amazing tool that you have created. Are your cameras availble for purchase? We use a lot of camera traps in the Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve on Kauai... |
+4
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AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Camera Traps | 13 hours 45 minutes ago | |
| @LydiaKatsis Trapper was designed to process large-scale camera trap projects, and it offers two interfaces for data management: a simple citizen science interface and an expert... |
+15
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Camera Traps | 3 days 3 hours ago | |
| Hello Eugene, I just tried your service:Was wondering how possible will it be to have the option to upload a second image and have a comparison running to let the user know if... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Software Development | 6 days 1 hour ago | |
| Thank you for your reply! It surely helps, we have use exif for a while to read metadata from images, when there is information available. Could be nice to maybe see if we... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 1 week 2 days ago | |
| Hi everyone,I’m currently developing a multilingual, offline-friendly training program called ConTech Curriculum, designed... |
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Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Camera Traps, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Protected Area Management Tools | 1 week 4 days ago | |
| Wow this is amazing! This is how we integrate Biology and Information Technology. |
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Camera Traps, AI for Conservation, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Data management and processing tools, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools, Geospatial | 2 weeks 3 days ago | |
| It's a wildlabs security innovations thermal camera product. We are a new company (The Netherlands), just formed last year. We just have one wildlife customer at the moment in... |
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Camera Traps | 4 weeks ago | |
| That's great. Thanks! |
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Camera Traps | 4 weeks 2 days ago | |
| Idles around 2W, peaks a bit more than 6W. |
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Camera Traps, AI for Conservation | 1 month ago | |
| We have a camera that could do this over some distance away due to a thermal module being involved. It will also record very high quality audio (Nature recording audiophiles rave... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month ago | |
| Here is a nice review on the use of camera traps in various ecological contexts:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1002/(ISSN)2045-7758.ecological-insights |
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Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools | 1 month 1 week ago | |
| Super nice project! How do you imagine thermal cameras will help with vegetation? It cannot exactly look though it.Rather than placing the camera inside the metalbox have you... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 1 week ago |
