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
- 1 Resources
- 29 Discussions
- 18 Groups
- @tsmstrat
- | she/her
- 1 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 13 Groups
Spanish veterinarian interested in wildlife conservation
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 14 Groups
- @CaseyAliveAI
- | He/Him
I'm an AI developer focused on ecology and the director of Alive AI
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @team
- | team
Make the stories that make this life worth living.
- 0 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 6 Groups
Software engineer
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @Mumonkan
- | he / him
Conservation X Labs & Wild Me
Software Engineer for Wildlife Conservation
- 0 Resources
- 4 Discussions
- 11 Groups
- @aranFish
- | He/Him
CTO at SafetyNet Technologies
- 1 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- @ajcatella
- | he/him
I work as a BI Consultant, specialising in Power BI and am passionate about wildlife, particularly in Africa
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 8 Groups
- @asime
- | He
I am Asime Oba a passionate conservationist with a strong background in microbiology and environmental science and a deep commitment to preserving, protecting and conserving wildlife and wild places in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @SZaluski
- | her, she
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 3 Groups
Article
#Tech4Wildlife 2020 Photo Challenge In Review
WILDLABS Team
2020 marked our fifth year holding our annual #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge, and our community made it a milestone to remember. Conservationists took to Twitter last week to share their best high-tech snapshots from...
4 March 2020
Funding
The 2020 Tusk Awards are now accepting nominations of outstanding individuals who have made a significant impact on conservation in Africa. These nominations offer the rare and exciting opportunity to honor your peers...
3 March 2020
Article
HWC Tech Challenge Update: Thermal Elephant Alert System
Anne Dangerfield
The Arribada Initiative is back with an update on their thermal elephant alert system which aims to reduce human-elephant conflict (HEC). The success of their system rests on the ability of a camera to accurately...
17 February 2020
Article
A New Cloud Platform Unveils the Most Diverse Camera Trap Database in the World
Zoological Society London (ZSL)
Fueled by Artificial Intelligence, Wildlife Insights provides access to over 4.5 million camera trap records.
17 December 2019
Article
Camera Trapping: Incredibly Useful Resources List
Arie Hammond
Ahead of the upcoming Camera Trapping Sympoisum, organiser Arie Hammond has compiled a list of key resources for camera trapping, covering everything from reading lists for beginners to data sets, models and tools for...
5 November 2019
Article
Plant-Powered Camera Trap Breakthrough
Alasdair Davies
Microbial fuel cells, developed by Plant-powered Camera Trap Challenge winners Plant-E, have been used successfully with Xnor.ai's energy harvesting camera technology to capture what are thought to be the world's first...
15 October 2019
Article
Instant Detect 2.0 emerges
Sam Seccombe
In the past six months Instant Detect 2.0 has physically emerged, with the first prototype systems built and ready for testing at the start of April. The ZSL team is now well into their optimisation and hardening phase...
3 September 2019
Article
Rutgers University, Microsoft AI for Earth, Google Earth Outreach and San Diego Zoo Global are proud to announce the world’s first camera trap technology symposium, to take place November 7th and 8th at Google...
2 September 2019
Article
Automated Identification of Indonesian Rhinos
Cooper Oelrichs
In this case study, Cooper Oelrichs of Save Indonesian Endangered Species Fund (SIES) breaks down his proposal for the development and training of an automated rhino identification system from limited camera trap data.
27 July 2019
Article
The WILDLABS TECH HUB is supporting technology solutions tackling the illegal wildlife trade, in collaboration with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Digital Catapult, Satellite Applications Catapult, Amazon Web...
4 June 2019
Article
Technology lab focused on wildlife protection opens on Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy partners with conservation and technology organisations to kick-start a research and innovation centre for wildlife conservation
31 May 2019
Article
In this blog, Laure Joanny adds her perspectives to an ongoing discussion that we've been seeing in the community about conservation tech and it's relationship to e-waste. How do we tackle the challenge of battery waste...
3 May 2019
June 2025
July 2025
June 2020
October 2019
58 Products
Recently updated products
4 Products
Recently updated products
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi I just tried and works great, I will include it in my workflow. Thanks for your work! Juan |
+9
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 2 months ago | |
| In the TrailCamPro link above (comparing FOV and Detection Angle), I see a few "panorama" camera models. For example, the Moultrie 150i or Moultrie 180 (https://... |
+7
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 2 months ago | |
| Hi all, Just wanted to make you aware, if you weren't already, of this other Wildlabs thread: https://www.wildlabs.net/community/thread/1080. Petar Gyurov (@pepi... |
+7
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 2 months ago | |
| I have a raspberry pi3 setup now as a video streaming server so I can keep a eye on my home while I am at work |
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 3 months ago | |
| Thanks Ryan would like to hear more about this, the project look awesome what distance are you getting from your wifi router |
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi. Just watched the Youtube version (I'm in the unable to watch live hemisphere) and wanted to say that was a great talk. I wish it could have gone for another hour. I liked... |
|
AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 4 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi Wildlabbers, After a holiday break, Tech Tutors Season 2 continues with our forth episode, featuring Doug Clark, Joseph... |
|
Camera Traps, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Community Base | 4 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi all, Just saw this on Twitter - a database of all kinds of camera trap user manuals across brands and models. Thought it might be a helpful resource if you're... |
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 6 months ago | |
| I also just found this similar summary of equipment on youtube - https://youtu.be/pNBkfE8UPDI. The breadboard and components are a good addition for building and testing... |
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 7 months ago | |
| Hi Wildlabbers, Just popping in to share this very cool primer for beginners to embedded machine learning from our tutor Daniel Situnayake! If you're interested in... |
|
AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 4 years 7 months ago | |
| Hi everyone, Alongside the earlier request for tracking datasets (here), there is now a similar initiative looking at the impacts... |
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 8 months ago | |
| Just in case anyone out there who's wondering the same as I did. I finally have this specific model in hand, and no it doesn't record in hybrid mode. |
|
Camera Traps | 4 years 8 months ago |
