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
- @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
- @hannahrisser
- | She/her
CEH
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 10 Groups
Link
Do you or someone you love study nocturnal animals? Do you want to film behavior in infrared, but NOT spend $1k on a camera (that will die in the field anyways)? Is short battery life a constant battle? Here, this...
20 October 2023
Link
When considering MPA groundfish monitoring methods: the more, the merrier! New paper out in Journal of Applied Ecology compared three MPA monitoring techniques commonly utilised to survey groundfish populations. They...
20 October 2023
Link
Have you ever wanted to continuously film underwater species and their behaviours for up to 2 days at a low cost? Well now you can with this new open-source design guide published in @MethodsEcolEvol! https://...
5 September 2023
Link
An interesting new paper from a camera trap surveying species' responses and resilience to megafires in the western United States. A great example of how conservation tech can help us understand regional climate change...
24 August 2023
Careers
Conservation Technology Specialist
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS is seeking a Conservation Technology Specialist to join their work in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
11 August 2023
Article
#Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Judges' Panel Honorees
WILDLABS Team
Please join us in celebrating this year’s top #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge Honorees as chosen by our panel of leading conservation organization judges, and enjoy the story contained within these entries about how our...
4 August 2023
Article
Join us as we count down the WILDLABS community's honorees in the first-ever #Tech4Wildlife Community Choice Awards!
3 August 2023
Careers
Senior Technical Specialist, Monitoring & Technology, ZSL
Anthony Dancer
Exciting opportunity for an experienced biodiversity monitoring expert in ZSL's conservation department
18 July 2023
Article
In 2019, the U.S. Navy initiated a time-lapse camera study to investigate seal presence at select haul-out locations in the lower Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters of Virginia, which are important areas to Navy training...
13 July 2023
Funding
Tools for automating image analysis for biodiversity monitoring
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Apply for funding (£500,000-£750,000) to develop software systems, which will help to improve biodiversity monitoring by automating the analysis of images and videos
12 July 2023
Funding
2023 Canon Oceania Grants - Environmental Grant AU$5,000
Esther Githinji
Applications are now open till 23 July for the 2023 Canon Oceania Grants with the category of the Environmental Grant valued at AU$5,000. The finalist will be selected based on the environmental and social merits of...
7 July 2023
Article
New Add-ons for Mbaza AI
Marundu Muturi
At Appsilon, we are always working to enable our users to get the most out of our solutions. With this in mind, we are happy to introduce two new add-ons to Mbaza AI.
4 July 2023
June 2025
July 2025
June 2020
October 2019
58 Products
Recently updated products
4 Products
Recently updated products
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello everyone,I've been thinking about FLIR thermal cameras and I'm curious about their capabilities. Given their powerful capabilities,... |
|
Camera Traps | 10 months 3 weeks ago | |
| In that case, you might want to keep an eye on the project from @Lars_Holst_Hansen |
|
Camera Traps, AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Early Career, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Protected Area Management Tools | 11 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Hi AlexThank you so much for the imput 🙏 |
|
Camera Traps | 11 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Depending on how much drift there is it may be a fixed offset caused by the timer not restarting until you have finished puttin gin al the settings. You set the time, then do all... |
|
Camera Traps | 11 months 4 weeks ago | |
| Thank you for elaborating, @evebohnett ! And for the heads ups! |
+22
|
Camera Traps, Drones | 1 year ago | |
| [oops, the same reply got submitted twice and there doesn't seem to be a "delete" button] |
|
AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 1 year 1 month ago | |
| Hi @zhongqimiao ,Might you have faced such an issue while using mega detectorThe conflict is caused by:pytorchwildlife 1.0.2.13 depends on torch==1.10.1pytorchwildlife 1.0.2.12... |
+6
|
AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Open Source Solutions | 1 year 1 month ago | |
| Thanks, and that's a match! All these pictures are from a lab experiment and formated with AmphIdent. We took weekly belly pictures of several larvae. The aim of this google... |
|
Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Software Development | 1 year 1 month ago | |
| Hi, this is pretty interesting to me. I plan to fly a drone over wild areas and look for invasive species incursions. So feral hogs are especially bad, but in the Everglades there... |
|
AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Open Source Solutions, Software Development | 1 year 1 month ago | |
| Hi everyone!@LashaO and @holmbergius from the Wild Me team at ConservationX Labs gave a superb talk at last month's Variety Hour,... |
|
AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 1 year 1 month ago | |
| Can't beat Dan's list! I would just add that if you're interested in broader protected area management, platforms like EarthRanger and SMART are amazing, and can integrate... |
|
Data management and processing tools, Camera Traps, Conservation Tech Training and Education | 1 year 1 month ago | |
| Hi @Alasdair Great to hear from you! Thanks for the comment and for those very useful links (very interesting). And for letting @Rob_Appleby know. I can't wait to hear... |
|
Emerging Tech, Camera Traps, Conservation Tech Training and Education | 1 year 1 month ago |
