Every year, we honor our #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge participants by sharing our top honorees whose impressive, impactful, and innovative projects demonstrate how technology is transforming the conservation field. We've seen tech users and makers from around the world, working in every possible environment and with every type of tool, and the stories shared in our past #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenges have reached over 1.5 million viewers, and even been featured in the New York Times.

This year, in addition to our Top Honorees being selected by a panel of voters from WILDLABS' leading partner conservation organizations, we've also welcomed our community to choose the entries that best capture the spirit of the WILDLABS community. Your votes have highlighted stories and projects that are primed to reach wider audiences around the world and show them the vast potential of conservation technology, and this collection of honorees reflects the tools, ideas, and perspectives that are significant to other conservation tech users and makers at this very moment. While research like our State of Conservation Technology program captures formal data on the needs and interests of the WILDLABS community going forward, this informal data surprisingly captured by the Community Choice Awards - perhaps unsurprisingly - reflects many of the same needs and interests, particularly in terms of in-demand tools like AI, which you'll see highlighted throughout many featured entries!

Community members came together to vote across five categories. And the entries you've selected, from small-scale local projects to comprehensive conservation efforts, capture the depth, variety, and ingenuity of the WILDLABS community's collective work. You'll find many familiar faces within this honorees circle, along with a surprising number of new participants whose work captured your attention and spoke to your interests and experiences. 

Read on to see who the WILDLABS community has chosen as our first-ever #Tech4Wildlife Community Choice 1st Place winners, Runner-Ups, and Honorees, and visit our #Tech4Wildlife Collection to see more highlights from this year's eighth annual #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge.

Tech in Action

Our Tech in Action honorees showcase technology, whether innovative or tried-and-true, being deployed or used in the field. Our community voted on entries that not only capture the effectiveness of these tools, but also put the excitement of working with conservation technology on display. 

Our winning entry from Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative grabbed the attention of our voters with their comically up-close look at how wildlife interact with camera traps, a staple in the conservation tech community. And our runner-up, Icas - Wild Animal Conservation Institute, also highlighted camera traps along with telemetry, this time highlighting how conservation tech can help us study rare wildlife in noninvasive ways that previously would’ve been impossible. 

Two other honorees in the category, Alison Forde and FieldKit, showed the process of deploying tech in the field in two vastly different environments, while honoree Roland Kays showed off one of the most rapidly evolving and frequently highlighted tools, AI, in action with his video on counting bat populations.

1st Place: Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Eyes in the field - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Trail cameras, game cameras, camera traps, and remote wildlife cameras are an important part of seeing what seems invisible.

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative is a Canada-U.S. nonprofit dedicated to securing the ecological health of the entire region. See some of its projects at a glance here. 

Runner-up: ICAS - Wild Animal Conservation Institute    

ICAS - Institute for the Conservation of Wild Animals is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving biodiversity. It produces science-based knowledge to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. ICAS aims to be a leading organization in scientific research focused on conserving biodiversity and presenting innovative solutions for endangered species, particularly the armadillo-canister and the bandamidle. Learn more about its projects here. 

Honoree: Alison Forde 

Alison Forde is a wildlife biologist and environmental educator with 10+ years of experience. She works as an ecologist at SNC-Lavalin, studying the effects of infrastructure development on wildlife. Alison also serves as Vice President and Social Media Coordinator for South Peel Naturalists' Club and contributes to iNaturalist's citizen science initiatives.

Honoree: Roland Kays

Here's a video of just the #AI part with a fun soundtrack #Tech4Wildlife pic.twitter.com/IehW3UEzm8

— Roland Kays (@RolandKays) July 28, 2023

Roland Kays is a scientist specializing in mammal ecology and conservation. He is a Research Professor at NC State University and heads the Biodiversity Lab at NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Roland shares science stories through TV shows and his Wild Animals podcast and  YouTube channel. He is an expert in using technology like camera traps and tracking tags to study animal movements and promote coexistence with humans in a changing world. Roland co-founded Movebank and Wildlife Insights, databases for animal tracking and camera trapping.

Honoree: FieldKit.org 

FieldKit is an affordable and user-friendly hardware for environmental sensing. Its platform manages, analyzes, and shares environmental data, and providing access to community of users and developers dedicated to documenting change and promoting a better future through data. 

Tech Innovations

Our Tech Innovations entries showcased new ideas, a creative outside-the-box use of technology, and sometimes even exciting projects that are just beginning to develop. The honorees chosen in our Community Choice Awards survey capture a fascinating snapshot of what technologies matter to our members around the world right now, and offer unique insight into the future paths of conservation tech! It’s not surprising that several of these honored entries highlight AI in some capacity, further emphasizing the high demand for accessible, easy-to-use, and effective AI solutions throughout our community. 

This category’s winner, WildMe, showed off one innovative method for identifying individual animals with AI, one of the most in-demand and rapidly evolving areas of data analysis. Our runner-up, Sam Seccombe, showed the process of building camera traps with the ability to detect animals in real-time, another highly requested feature amongst our many tech users. 

Our other honorees in this category, WildlifeACT Innovations, Andrew Nosal, and Topiltzin Contreras, showed us the latest in biologging, AI integrated with drone footage, and even an everyday GoPro adapted to monitor marine populations underwater with the help of AI.

1st Place: WildMe

WildMe's mission is to support wildlife research and conservation by using photography and AI-powered computer vision to identify individual animals. They aim to combat the sixth mass extinction by providing efficient and accurate animal monitoring techniques. Their Codex platforms offer customizable tools for fast computational photo-identification, enabling global collaboration among researchers, tourists, and the public to identify species and contribute to conservation efforts.

Runner-up: Sam Seccombe

Sam Seccombe is a zoologist and Conservation Technology Technical Project Manager of Instant Detect 2.0 at the Zoological Society of London. The wildlife monitoring system is beta-testing and is predicted to launch in 2024.

Honoree: WildlifeACT Innovations

Wildlife ACT Innovations is a partnership between Wildlife ACT Fund Trust and AWE Telemetry Systems, creating wildlife telemetry products used in various conservation areas, both public and private, to save endangered species and promote biodiversity conservation.

Honoree: Andrew Nosal

Here, 180 leopard #sharks have been tracked using #computervision from #drone footage captured off #SanDiego (that's a harbor seal that spooks a few of the sharks). Next three tweets show tracking results. @PLNU @Scripps_Ocean #sharkscience #SharkWeek #Tech4Wildlife (1/4) pic.twitter.com/f8voX013NC

— Andrew Nosal (@AndrewNosal) July 24, 2023

Lastly, just for fun, here are four individual #shark tracks to show some of the variation among the aggregating leopard #sharks. @PLNU @Scripps_Ocean #sharkscience #SharkWeek #Tech4Wildlife

Andrew Nosal is a San Diego-based interdisciplinary scholar with 10+ years of teaching biology, ecology, oceanography, and environmental science. He is an Associate Professor of Biology at Point Loma Nazarene University and a marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Andrew’s research expertise lies in animal movement ecology, particularly with sharks and rays. He is also dedicated to public science outreach and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.

Honoree: Topiltzin Contreras

Topiltzin Contreras is a Ph.D. researcher focusing on freshwater ecosystems and the conservation of endangered fish species. He has taught ichthyology and conservation biology at the Center for Biological Research at the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos for over 36 years. He is actively involved in various international organizations, holding positions such as founder and Regional Coordinator for Mesoamerica of the IUCN/SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, Co-Chair of the IUCN/SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Species Survival Commission at IUCN. Additionally, he is a former Minister of Sustainable Development for the Government of the State of Morelos in Mexico. He also represents Latin America in the International Association of Protected Areas (IAPA) based in China.

Tech Impacts

Our Tech Impacts honorees showcase how technology has made a difference in conservation efforts through valuable data, informing policy, directly protecting wildlife or habitats from crime or natural disasters, or saving entire species. 

Returning champion Andrew Digby took the top Community Choice Award in this category for his continuing work with the endangered kakapo population of New Zealand, where conservation tech allows for comprehensive monitoring and care for each and every surviving bird. Another returning champion, BearID, took the runner-up position as they discussed how their popular AI method for individual bear identification can empower regional conservation efforts. 

Our honorees continued the AI-heavy trend of this year’s Community Choice Awards, with Vic Shao-Chih Chiang discussing the need to make this vital tool accessible to local and underserved communities. Klaus Thymann grabbed the attention of our marine conservation community for highlighting how specially-designed cameras can help map and monitor vulnerable seafloor habitats impacted by trawling, and RSPB Science shared their efforts to monitor bird flu impacts on seabird populations through the use of drones.

1st Place: Andrew Digby

Andrew Digby is a scientist at the Department of Conservation in New Zealand, specializing in kakapo and takahe. Originally from the UK, he pursued a career in astronomy, completing a Ph.D. at Edinburgh University. After a NASA postdoctoral fellowship in the US, he moved to New Zealand and worked in meteorological research. Andrew later switched to ecology, earning a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology at Victoria University of Wellington, focusing on kiwi research. Read about his current work here. 

Runner-up: BearID Project

For @WILDLABSNET #Tech4Wildlife week this year we wanted to tell you a little more about ⚡️The whys of the BearID Project⚡️ Why do the whys matter? Tech4Wildlife that is rooted in solving real-world problems holds the most potential for application to conservation.1/n pic.twitter.com/1JdYWOra6J

— BearID Project (@bearid_project) July 28, 2023

For @WILDLABSNET #Tech4Wildlife week this year we wanted to tell you a little more about The whys of the BearID Project Why do the whys matter? Tech4Wildlife that is rooted in solving real-world problems holds the most potential for application to conservation.

BearID Project focuses on using machine learning and face recognition to identify individual bears from remote camera trap imagery. The software tool aims to provide a new survey technique for researchers and wildlife monitoring, with broad applications for scientists, managers, governments, industries, and community scientists. The approach can be applied to other species beyond bears, supporting global conservation efforts.

Honoree: Vic Shao-Chih Chiang

Intro2BehvRes/2023JANtoMAY at main · vchiang001/Intro2BehvRes

2022.09 Introduction to Behavioural Research . Contribute to vchiang001/Intro2BehvRes development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub

Vic Shao-Chih Chiang is a Taiwan-born New Zealander with a passion for fostering epistemological diversity and addressing underserved communities. He co-founded Savyn Tech, a Toronto-based social impact venture for mental health and trauma. His research focuses on the neuroscience of sexual diversity, and he has gained diverse research experiences globally. Vic is also dedicated to increasing the accessibility of machine learning and promoting healthcare equity in underserved communities. He is an instructor and co-started a video channel, "Thoughts Relativism," to challenge assumptions and embrace plurality.

Honoree: Klaus Thymann

Klaus Thymann is a Danish explorer, scientist, photographer, filmmaker, and creative director. He has a cross-disciplinary skillset, combining journalism, image-making, mapping, and documentary to focus on contemporary issues and the climate emergency. Thymann is an experienced mountaineer and technical diver, having led expeditions in extreme environments across the globe. He has made significant discoveries through fieldwork, supported by his environmental science degree. Thymann is also involved in charitable work, including establishing the charity Project Pressure for visualizing the climate crisis through art. His artwork has been exhibited in prestigious museums and institutions worldwide, and he has lectured at various universities and organizations.

Honoree: RSPB Science

RSPB Science is the Center for Conservation Science of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which was founded in 1889 and is now the largest nature conservation charity in the UK. It forges powerful partnerships, conducts visible conservation work, and protects habitats and species worldwide. Learn more about RSPB Science’s work and community here. 

Species Spotlights

Our Species Spotlights participants showcased outstanding photos or videos of wildlife, whether captured through technology like camera traps or drones, or captured in the field while working with tech tools for biologging, bioacoustics, and more. These Community Choice Award honorees are a wonderful reminder of the reason our community members have devoted their careers to conservation tech: an enduring love for wildlife and the many species we’re trying to protect around the globe. 

Nicole Corriveau took the top honor for stunning camera trap images of African species, from big cats to hyenas to elephants, all of which co-exist amongst local communities of the region. Runner-up Ed Miller of BearID took home another honor from our voters for showcasing the world-famous Katmai bears as seen on the extremely popular Explore.org bear cams. 

Honoree Luciano Foglia shared a breathtaking photo of rare snow leopard cubs as spotted by rugged camera traps, Andrew Nosal once again entered the honoree circle for capturing a fascinating leopard shark behavior via drone and underwater camera, and Save the Elephants snapped a captivating look at a bull elephant carrying around a GPS collar with his trunk.

1st Place: Nicole Corriveau

Nicole Corriveau is a Fish and Wildlife Technician for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, and recently graduated from the University of New England with degrees in Environmental Science and Climate Change Studies. She is experienced in avian research and climate communication, and has worked with municipal government as secretary for the Biddeford Climate Task Force.

Runner-up: Ed Miller

Ed Miller is a Director and Software Developer for the BearID Project with over 25 years of experience in multimedia product development. He specializes in remote sensing, computer vision, and deep learning. Ed holds a BS degree in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and is passionate about the environment, wildlife, and photography.

Honoree: Luciano Foglia

Luciano Foglia is an artist and designer with a love for nature that led him to become a wildlife conservationist. He combines his conservation experience with creative thinking to inspire solutions and raise awareness for protecting vulnerable species. With over 20 years of experience and international recognition, his core mission is to produce fresh, innovative, and impactful creative solutions at the intersection of art and technology, and to make a difference in preserving our natural world. 

Honoree: Andrew Nosal

This rolling behavior is common in #sharks, including leopards. They are rubbing their head, back, and sides on the sand, likely trying to dislodge ectoparasites, like these copepods. @PLNU @Scripps_Ocean #sharkscience #sharkweek #Tech4Wildlife (underwater video by Kenneth Merk) pic.twitter.com/7vonX29rgu

— Andrew Nosal (@AndrewNosal) July 25, 2023

Andrew Nosal is a San Diego-based interdisciplinary scholar with 10+ years of teaching biology, ecology, oceanography, and environmental science. He is an Associate Professor of Biology at Point Loma Nazarene University and a marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Andrew’s research expertise lies in animal movement ecology, particularly with sharks and rays. He is also dedicated to public science outreach and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.

Honoree: Save the Elephants

Save the Elephants is dedicated to securing a future for elephants through specialized research and scientific insights into their behavior and movements. They use high-tech tracking and low-tech solutions like beehive fences to promote coexistence with humans while protecting communities and providing income. Education and outreach programs share these insights with local communities. They also run the Elephant Crisis Fund in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Network, supporting NGOs combating the ivory trade and protecting elephant landscapes.

Community Science

Our Community Science honorees showcase how technology can help us connect people to conservation efforts, whether through engaging with local communities and building capacity for tech work, sharing wildlife and conservation stories with audiences around the world, or allowing people to connect with nature in their own lives. This category is a crucial reminder that wildlife conservation is not only about flagship species and large-scale efforts: it’s about all of us finding our own role to play in conservation with the skills and tools that are accessible to us. 

Ostdrossel took first place in this category for videos of local birds and unique views inside of their nests. Likewise, runner-up Suzanne Dickerson also took home an honor for camera trap footage of the unique behavior of local raccoon families and their interactions in a space shared by many other species. Our community may work with diverse species around the globe, including the endangered species that readily and easily capture the attention of the general public - but these two entries placing so high within the Community Choice Awards reflects that we cannot underestimate the power of using technology to engage people with the nature that exists around them. 

Our additional honorees, Wolf Fish and Kigosy Exavery, highlighted the importance of building capacity in conservation tech and training future leaders in the field, while BirdsyTV offered footage of how accessible AI can empower anyone to understand their local species better. 

1st Place: Ostdrossel

I love using #Tech4Wildlife because it enables me to see what I normally would not see. It is great for nestbox monitoring - these #Chickadees were a delight earlier this season 1/5 pic.twitter.com/7BDd7Ut62E

— Ostdrossel (@Ostdrossel) July 25, 2023

I also have a camera in the #Bluebird box. It was only used once this season (usually there's three nestings) but it was so great to have the camera because the male disappeared and the female raised the babies herself. Here, they fledge. 2/5 pic.twitter.com/MwFBI9KlMx

— Ostdrossel (@Ostdrossel) July 25, 2023

I also use several @BirdsyT cams all around my property to see what the wildlife does. And I would not want to live without them. One of my highlights was this #owl coming to bathe several times. 3/5 pic.twitter.com/WYuLiG7DbC

— Ostdrossel (@Ostdrossel) July 25, 2023

I use them on the bath but also on feeding stations and change setups whenever I feel like it. I am livestreaming these on my website and on https://t.co/hdQ3QP4KvC, or what they call #BirdsyTV. 4/5 pic.twitter.com/e9asISogc3

— Ostdrossel (@Ostdrossel) July 25, 2023

Ostdrossel shares photos and videos using a homemade feeder camera setup with an action camera and macro lens for closeup shots. The setup produces up to 25,000 photos a day per camera. Additionally, they use a BirdsyTV camera with built-in AI to record videos of birds landing and store the clips in the cloud. View their RedBubble account here. 

Runner-up: Suzanne Dickerson

Suzanne Dickerson, or @CameraTrapSue, is a Colorado-based researcher and ecologist. She has gained a large online following by sharing trail camera footage of wildlife.

Honoree: Wolf Fish

Wolf Fish is an anti-colonial company focused on building local capacity in environmental surveying. They believe in empowering local communities to protect their environments by providing them with skills and knowledge. Using aerial surveys, they monitor environmental changes and train communities to utilize the data for land use planning and habitat restoration.

Honoree: Birdsy TV

#Tech4Wildlife We are using Birdsy AI to connect to IP cameras, allowing users to have their cams monitored by the system, recording only clips of wildlife, IDing them and saving them to the cloud. Species are logged and the cam can be live streamed on https://t.co/2P5Wrs5eAc 😀 pic.twitter.com/BdzUMfE2xj

— BirdsyTV (@BirdsyTV) July 26, 2023

BirdsyTV is a camera system created by engineers and nature lovers dedicated to changing how we watch and experience wildlife. The cameras use AI to capture wildlife behavior, recognize bird and wildlife species, and monitor footage for users. BirdsyTV aims to promote care for the environment by getting people closer to their animal neighbors.

Honoree: Kigosi Exavery 

Kigosi Exavery is a GIS and Data Analyst for the Grumeti Fund in Tanzania. He studied Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam and Natural Resources Management at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente.

Thank you for joining us for our first-ever #Tech4Wildlife Community Choice Awards, and thank you to all of our honorees for sharing their stories with us! We look forward to helping you share your conservation tech innovations and successes with our global community for years to come.

To see more #Tech4Wildlife honorees, visit our Judges' Panel Awards announcement to see the awardees selected by our panel of voters from leading conservation organizations.