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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Link
I put together some initial experiences deploying the new SpeciesNet classifier on 37,000 images from a Namibian camera trap dataset and hope that sharing initial impressions might be helpful to others.
23 April 2025
Link
A nice resource that addresses the data interoperability challenge from the GBIF.
4 April 2025
Article
Nature Tech for Biodiversity Sector Map launched!
Carly Batist and 1 more
Conservation International is proud to announce the launch of the Nature Tech for Biodiversity Sector Map, developed in partnership with the Nature Tech Collective!
1 April 2025
Article
The FLIR ONE thermal camera is a compact and portable thermal imaging device capable of detecting heat signatures in diverse environments. This report explores its application in locating wild animals across large areas...
27 March 2025
Funding
Arctic Community Wildlife Grants Program
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
WWF's Arctic Community Wildlife Grants program supports conservation, stewardship, and research initiatives that focus on coastal Arctic ecology, community sustainability, and priority Arctic wildlife, including polar...
7 March 2025
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Wildlife Monitoring Internship 2025
Alex Rood
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SNZCBI) is seeking an intern to assist with multiple projects related to conservation technology for wildlife monitoring. SNZCBI scientists collect data...
3 March 2025
Article
NewtCAM observations
Xavier Mestdagh
NewtCAM is an underwater camera trap. Devices are getting deployed worldwide in the frame of the CAMPHIBIAN project and thanks to the support of our kind early users. Here an outcome from the UK.
24 February 2025
Funding
Osa Conservation is launching our inaugural cohort of the ‘Susan Wojcicki Research Fellowship’ for 2025, worth up to $15,000 per awardee (award value dependent on project length and number of awards given each year)....
10 February 2025
Link
Did someone read/know this book?
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28 January 2025
Link
Collaring Elephants and Post Release Monitoring
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INSTANT DETECT 2.0 – THE OPTIMISATION YEARS
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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...
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| Hi, just wanted to let whoever is interested that v.1.3 of DeepFaune is out! Deepfaune is a software that runs on any standard... |
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Camera Traps, AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions | 1 month 1 week ago | |
| Hi there I am looking into the feasibility of a remote camera program in the Yukon Territory, Canada outside of cellular coverage with the... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 1 week ago | |
| [Full disclosure: this question was also posted to the AI for Conservation Slack, and I'm copying and pasting my answer from there to here.]The first thing I would recommend is... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 2 weeks ago | |
| Using some cheap WiFi router (brand Comfast) which has a USB port where I connected a USB SSD drive 1GB. I have flashed it with OpenWRT, rebuilt ffmpeg (as ffmpeg-custom) to... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Hi @rcz133 thanks for the update it looks promissing! An external motion PIR as @EDsteve develloped could help reduce the power consumption related to the video pipeline, but so... |
+10
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Camera Traps | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Training remains somewhat more of a hassle than inference, but thanks to a WILDLABS grant, our friendly neighborhood machine learning folks at DrivenData are working to narrow... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Hi all,I'm interested in this post for another context, tropical rainforest. I want to monitor forest cleareance in the Congo bassin rainforest through time-lapse images.... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Yep see you on friday |
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Geospatial, Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Hi everyone, I’m excited to become a member of Wild Lab! I’m currently working on my master’s thesis, focusing on dormouse conservation. My research explores the behavioral... |
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AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Early Career, Geospatial | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| We manufacture the DOC AI Cam. It's a thermal camera, so particularly good for nocturnal animals. It comes with a 4G modem. It might meet your needs? |
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Camera Traps | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| The magic of the WILDLABS community! @Chelsea_Smith @dmorris @pvlun thanks for showing everyone how it's done :) Chelsea, would be great to hear how this works out for you... |
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Camera Traps | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| I'm hoping someone can make some recommendations for a wildlife camera that can be set up on a small, man made island that will record... |
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Camera Traps | 2 months 2 weeks ago |
