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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Careers
Postdoc: Biologging & Camera Trap Data Integration
Lacey Hughey
The Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to help us integrate movement data & camera trap data with global conservation policy.
22 April 2024
Article
Starting a Conservation Technology Career with Vainess Laizer
Esther Githinji
Watch our interview with pioneering young Tanzanian vulture researcher Vainess Laizer! Her research investigating the breeding success of white-backed vultures in the western corridor of the Serengeti ecosystem using...
16 April 2024
Link
"We present the multivariate Hawkes process (MHP) and show how it can be used to analyze interactions between several species using camera trap data."
15 April 2024
Careers
Research Assistant, Lion Landscapes in Nanyuki
Esther Githinji
Are you passionate about wildlife conservation and eager to contribute to meaningful research efforts? Lion Landscapes is seeking a dedicated and proactive Research Assistant to join their team.
11 April 2024
Combining camera traps and online surveys provided a more comprehensive understanding of mammal communities in anthropogenic landscapes, increasing both spatial coverage and the number of species sightings.
9 April 2024
Link
These researchers used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 April 2024
Article
The Variety Hour: 2024 Lineup
Alex Rood
You’re invited to the WILDLABS Variety Hour, a monthly event that connects you to conservation tech's most exciting projects, research, and ideas. We can't wait to bring you a whole new season of speakers and...
22 March 2024
Careers
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SNZCBI) is seeking two postdoctoral fellows to engage more directly with identifying conservation metrics for vertebrate communities and populations.
14 March 2024
Link
Our new paper uses data from the citizen science project, Seabird Watch (hosted on the Zooniverse platform; seabirdwatch.org), to measure seabird phenology. Volunteers marked birds in time-lapse images to investigate...
13 March 2024
Link
EcoAssist has now incorporated the Deepfaune v1.1 species identification model for camera trap images, capable of recognizing 26 European species. The model is developed by Deepfaune initiative. More information is...
12 March 2024
Article
Catch up on the conservation tech discussions and events that happened during World Wildlife Day 2024!
7 March 2024
Article
EcoAssist introduces a free African species identification model for camera trap images, capable of recognising 30 species.
5 March 2024
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hej Vasilios, thank you so much for this list with notes! Much appreciated. Thank you also for sharing your experiences with the Mitsubishi corporation, your non-profit and other... |
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Camera Traps, Funding and Finance | 8 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Hi Rob,Thank you so much for these suggestions, I'll do a little more research around these and get back to you if I have any other questions! :)Best,Chelsea |
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Camera Traps | 8 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Hi Patrick,FYI - I've modified a couple hundred GardePros at this point with a new lens for wider angles and closer focus. Their cameras are pretty simple so easy to take apart... |
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Camera Traps | 9 months ago | |
| Very interesting please update us once experiment is successful |
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Camera Traps, Conservation Tech Training and Education | 9 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Really interesting, I will take a look |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech | 9 months 3 weeks ago | |
| great project !! |
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Camera Traps | 9 months 4 weeks ago | |
| great idea!! |
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Camera Traps | 9 months 4 weeks ago | |
| Keep digging girll!! |
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Camera Traps | 9 months 4 weeks ago | |
| @cmwainaina please take a look |
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Animal Movement, AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Connectivity, Data management and processing tools, East Africa Community, Emerging Tech, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools, Geospatial, Sensors, Software Development | 10 months ago | |
| I'm being quite daring by making statements on a forum that is frequented by Dan Morris (obviously in deference to his extensive knowledge on the subject :-) ), but here goes.... |
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Camera Traps | 10 months 2 weeks ago | |
| We evaluated background subtraction as part of our pipeline for Zamba Cloud a few years ago. It's going to depend a lot on your backgrounds, but we found that for jungle/forest... |
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Camera Traps | 10 months 2 weeks ago | |
| I was going to suggest the Garde Pro too. The model available in Australia is good. I have found that the download from the SD card to the linked phone can take a while, so be... |
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Camera Traps | 10 months 2 weeks ago |
