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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Funding
Conservation Leadership Programme 2017 Award
WILDLABS Admin
The Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) is a training and capacity building programme that targets individuals from developing countries who are early in their conservation career and demonstrate leadership...
21 November 2016
Funding
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grants via USFWS
WILDLABS Admin
Do you work on conserving Neotropical migratory birds? Do you need funding? Why not apply for a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act's grant program? The...
8 November 2016
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Internet Cats Just Got Bigger
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The internet has a long love affair with cat pictures, but these aren’t your mom’s internet cats. Now internet cats are getting even bigger and wilder. In this article, Dr. Lisa Feldkamp talks about the work Panthera is...
26 October 2016
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Caves don't tend to be well-liked ecosystems, being extremely dark, often quite cramped, and slippery. And the creepy-crawlies that live within them can be the stuff of nightmares. Nevertheless, one's attitude towards...
25 July 2016
Article
Camera traps reveal mysteries of nature
Roland Kays
Sharing personal 'best of' animal pictures is a favorite pastime of many camera trappers. A prolific camera trapper himself, Roland Kays has pulled together more than 600 images collected by 152 researchers from 54...
18 July 2016
Article
Can camera traps placed in trees offer a way to rapidly inventory secretive arboreal mammals? How does this approach compare with traditional survey techniques? Dr Andy Whitworth and his colleagues set out to answer...
4 July 2016
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TEAM Network and Wildlife Insights
Eric Fegraus
Operating the largest tropical forest camera trap network globally, TEAM Network has accumulated over 2.6 million images. How can large datasets coupled with new techniques for data management and analysis provide...
28 April 2016
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Camera traps have revolutionised wildlife research and conservation, enabling scientists to collect photographic evidence of rarely seen and often globally endangered species, with low expense, relative ease, and...
20 April 2016
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When Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance, spoke at the WWF Fuller Symposium, she took us on a whistle-stop tour of case studies where software and data are transforming our understanding...
10 March 2016
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Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge: Winners Announced!
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From artificial “sniffer” technologies to portable DNA sequencers, the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge received hundreds of innovative ideas to help stamp out wildlife crime. Now, the Challenge is proud to announce 16...
22 January 2016
Article
New technologies offer a lot of potential for conservation, but are there potential risks to deploying these new technologies? In this first thought piece for the Ethics of Conservation Tech Group, Dr Chris Sandbrook...
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| Hello Sam, We've had good luck with these: https://www.covertscoutingcameras.com/shop/covert-accessories/booster-antenna-for-wireless-cameras/ In high baboon areas we... |
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Camera Traps | 5 years 11 months ago | |
| Adding my 2 cents here... and I'm being generous with the value of my comment, maybe just 1 cent... AI should be able to help a lot with the recognition tasks. Edge... |
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Camera Traps | 5 years 11 months ago | |
| Hi camera trappers, I just wanted to signpost to the Camera Trap C.V. Web Conference hosted by Rutgers Ecological Data... |
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Camera Traps | 5 years 11 months ago | |
| Thanks for sharing. This is going to be very helpful with my on-going design project! |
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Camera Traps | 6 years ago | |
| Hi Greg, Indeed, the German solution you identified might be a better solution than what I had found on Amazon, which were mostly Doppler solutions, and thinking more about it... |
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Camera Traps | 6 years ago | |
| My friend Charbax of ARMDevices.net posted a video about STM's 60GHz Short Range RF system. This module was announced... |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 1 month ago | |
| Thanks Andy, I didn't realize the potenial of such solution in aversion measures. |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 1 month ago | |
| Hi Andy, yep you've got that exactly right. False positives. Glad you found it interesting. Thanks, Ollie |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 1 month ago | |
| Hi Peter, Ok cool, I'll ask him. I know Lucy is heading back over in a couple of months for sure though, so happy to give it to her for you. Cheers, Rob |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 4 months ago | |
| Hi Marisa, It sounds like the Iris on the lens may be stuck open or its been drifting into an open position (hence why you could see images for a while, but now the... |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 6 months ago | |
| Hi Sibusiso, Are you looking for huge data sets or would vacation pictures (mostly Uganda) of elephants be of any help to you? Cheers, Nigel |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 7 months ago | |
| Amaxing, thank you! We had to put them out already so have gone with the super-tech solution of a *very* high pole for now but will look at speaking to Sebastian, or with... |
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Camera Traps | 6 years 9 months ago |
