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: ACEAA-Conservacion Amazonica
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Team lead for the ARISE Biocloud team, developing an infrastructure for biodiversity monitoring and digital species identification. Also, project lead for the Diopsis insect camera project.
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Agroecology Geek
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Conservation International
Wildlife Insights Managing Director
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Machine Learning Intern at Wildlife Institute of India
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Wild Me
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Working on Human wildlife Conflict and Wildlife invasive species management
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Aarhus University
Biologist and Research Technician working with ecosystem monitoring and research at Zackenberg Research Station in Greenland
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Freaklabs
I'm an engineer and product designer working on wildlife conservation technology.
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A marine research intern and science communicator with experience in photography, filmmaking, and collaborating on multi-disciplinary and community-centered marine research focusing on: fisheries management, seagrass ecosystems, and ocean literacy
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Iam very passionate in environment as well as wildlife conservation
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I am a conservation enthusiast who aims at learning more about conservation and its technology. My research interests lie in wildlife conservation in anthropogenic landscapes.
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Are you creative, love new challenges and have experience developing software? The Wildlife Insights team is hiring! Join a diverse team of ecologists, data scientists, engineers and machine learning experts to protect...
10 August 2022
1
Press Release for International Tiger Day – July 29th, 2022: For the first time ever, wild tigers and their prey have been detected by AI-powered, cryptic cameras that transmit the images to the cell phones and...
5 August 2022
Careers
WCS Canada is seeking a Data Technician with a keen eye for detail to support its Wolverine Conservation Program. The Data Technician will be responsible for classifying wildlife photos taken with motion-sensor cameras...
29 July 2022
Two postdoc positions are now accepting applications for an NSF-funded project integrating data from museums, iNaturalist, and camera trapping data from the Snapshot USA annual survey.
11 July 2022
Careers
The Survey Coordinator is a 3 year role that will assist Program Managers in recruiting. training and retaining participants in a nation-wide camera trapping program
9 June 2022
Microchip has just announced the 1 GHz SAMA7G54 single-core Arm Cortex-A7 microprocessor (MPU) with MIPI CSI-2 and parallel camera interfaces, as well as up to four I2S, one SPDIF transmitter and receiver, and a 4-...
3 June 2022
30 May 2022
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Check out this round-up of three of the latest conservation tech studies and news. See more conservation tech news by subscribing to our bi-monthly digest.
24 March 2022
We're proud to introduce the first WILDLABS On the Edge Fellows for 2022, Loretta Schindlerova and Meredith Palmer! Working alongside expert Edge Impulse mentors, these two fellows will use embedded machine learning to...
10 February 2022
This article argues for a conservation method that integrates monitoring technology and community knowledge. Focusing on pangolins, the most trafficked animals globally, the study combines camera trap data from the...
20 December 2021
Camera trap wildlife surveys can generate vast amounts of imagery. A key problem in the wildlife ecology field is that vast amounts of time is spent reviewing this imagery to identify the species detected. Valuable...
20 December 2021
August 2022
July 2021
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Hi Kim,Thanks for the response. I think they can hear our cameras clicking when they are set off and they come to see what is happening so I would totally agree with the... |
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Camera Traps | 2 days 20 hours ago | |
For info, I found this "IA cloud software" running on phone but don't know how to integrate it for the work I'm looking for: |
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Camera Traps | 2 days 23 hours ago | |
Hi Yvan,If you find something which reaches your expectation and especially the ability to identify individual with plumage patterns I will be intereted.In the same idea that... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 3 days 23 hours ago | |
Hi Shawn,I am looking into camera traps to use for an arboreal project in Panama, I am really interested in your experience of mounting camera traps up trees. The photo shows an... |
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Camera Traps | 6 days 21 hours ago | |
I'm interested in your findings for the same utilization, so what did you decide to do ? |
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Camera Traps | 1 week 2 days ago | |
Have you considered creating a Kaggle competition? If you already have lots of images, and some that have been labelled, then this could be a good way to get people working on a... |
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AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Camera Traps | 1 week 3 days ago | |
More info, the exact protocols & instructions to sign up here: https://app.wildlifeinsights.org/initiatives/2000166/Snapshot-Europe... |
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Camera Traps | 3 weeks 1 day ago | |
Cool thread!I will be testing Reolink Wi-Fi cameras in combination with solar powered TP-Link long range Wi-Fi antennas/repeaters later this field season for monitoring arctic fox... |
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Camera Traps | 3 weeks 5 days ago | |
(Not sure how I missed this thread earlier). I think different usage models lead to different security box enclosures. E.g:1. High Risk Locations: You need the... |
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Camera Traps | 3 weeks 6 days ago | |
Hi Kate,I highly appreciate your feedback. I love your idea of using wild ID .I have registered for the wild ID and am looking forward to using it in future. I wont hesitate to... |
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Camera Traps, East Africa Community | 1 month 1 week ago | |
Great news Dan! We will be giving the model a go on some of our new eradication projects soon |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 1 month 1 week ago | |
Hi Meredith,Here's a little more information about the Arribada cameras. They are solar powered and received enough power in the Antarctic winter continue photographing. We... |
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Camera Traps | 1 month 1 week ago |
Lead Software Engineer, Wildlife Insights
10 August 2022 at 11:06pm
Building a simple AI-powered, human-in-the-loop system to manage wildlife camera trap images & annotations
10 August 2022 at 08:12pm
Hi folks! I built out a human-in-the-loop annotation platform for Felidae Conservation Fund, a SF-Bay Area nonprofit last Fall using MegaDetector. I'm looking for feedback from this amazing community around areas of collaboration, especially data/software resources we can share!
Tiger, Tiger, in the Night... Now Visible in Real Time
5 August 2022 at 04:07pm
Dealing with Cows whilst camera trapping
5 August 2022 at 11:17am
9 August 2022 at 03:22pm
I like the idea of supplying them with a scratching post solution, I will look into that. Thorns/gorse is also a great idea.
Thanks very much for the suggestions! I will let you know what works!
9 August 2022 at 03:24pm
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the response. I think they can hear our cameras clicking when they are set off and they come to see what is happening so I would totally agree with the inquisitive cows!
I will try the flag idea as building cages is just not going to be practical with soil depth.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Cheers
Dave
Identify animal from Image
2 August 2022 at 01:37am
2 August 2022 at 02:54am
Hi Jitendra.
If they are still images, many people are using Megadetector to analyze their images. I'm not sure how it will do in species classification, but it can tell you if there are images of interest in the shots. Others here can probably give you more detailed instructions on how to use it to batch process camera trap images.
2 August 2022 at 10:24am
Have you considered creating a Kaggle competition? If you already have lots of images, and some that have been labelled, then this could be a good way to get people working on a solution
Wolverine Data Technician

29 July 2022 at 01:59pm
Snapshot Europe 2022 sign-up is open!
20 July 2022 at 06:17pm
Opportunity: Postdocs on mammal species distributions

11 July 2022 at 08:46pm
New Conservation Tech Directory update
27 June 2022 at 04:45pm
9 August 2022 at 12:02am
Hi David,
Harold is correct. Cattle do like to use anything to scratch against. They are also pretty inquisitive.
Cattle don't like shadows or flowing rubbish/ material. So attach a flag post near the camera or build a cage around it. Yet with a cage, cattle will most likely rub up against it.
Never ending cycle of the scratching vs what you don't want moved