Camera Trapping Technology on Big Cat Conservation Efforts
Conservation of big cats has become a global priority. They serve as umbrella species across a large variety of habitats and are vitally important components of the ecosystems they are a part of. Although big cats exist in low densities, they exert an ecological effect on the ecosystem that extends all the way down the food web to herbivores and plants. The potential adverse effects the loss of big cat species have on ecosystem functions is in need of urgent attention. However, accurate data on their population ecology of is lacking, which has a negative impact on any effective management techniques.
Big cat species have been a fundamental piece of global conservation plans through the public attention they attract. Conservation strategies targeted at big cat species can assemble local and global support for further efforts while fostering the conservation and restoration of a healthy, functioning ecosystem. There is clearly a demand to recognize that these species need further management and conservation using a more long-term, collective conservation approach.
Successful big cat conservation depends on the tracking and monitoring of species through their environment. This is crucial in detecting environmental challenges that wildlife face for conservation purposes. Big cat species, in particular, are hard to monitor and track because of their elusive behaviors. By their very nature, these species are a challenge to investigate because their populations may be clustered and/or sparsely distributed over a large range. They also inhabit remote areas where field conditions make it difficult to maneuver - making traditional survey methods like direct observation impractical. This is why the use of non-invasive monitoring techniques has become essential in surveilling the movement of big cats. Much of the strategies that involve big cat conservation are still in the works. But, when scientists consider conservation strategies, the strong image of a big cat combined with its ecological importance make them the ideal flagship species to motivate support on a global scale.
Camera trapping, a powerful tool used for monitoring and researching big cats through non-invasive methods, allows for accurate population readings and trend monitoring. While the first studies using camera traps date back to the 1990’s, this method was revolutionary and has continued to improve big cat population monitoring. This is especially due to the difficulty in studying them because of their solitary and fleeting nature. Camera traps are not as elaborate as one might think, and these innovative conservation technologies are just like an everyday camera equipped with motion sensors. The simplicity of this technology is one of the many reasons it is a primary option in conservation planning. In a 2014 study, researchers shared four reasons camera traps are the suitable way to go: (a) they have no effect on the animals behavior and are non-invasive; (b) they are easy to install, (c) they provide solid data sets; and, (d) they offer bonus material of other local species.
Camera trapping has proven to advance research and conservation methods on a local and a global scale. Vital information on the ecology of big cats has been collected because of the use of camera-trapping technology in the field. Camera traps have positively contributed to an increased amount of data for large-scale habitats and assembling public support through visual evidence and imagery.
Estimating population numbers for big cat species is a challenge for many scientists and conservationists. A 1995 study showed camera trap methodology to be an effective tool in approximating tiger densities. Throughout Asia, camera traps are used extensively to study this specific species. Even work from over 25 years ago shows high-quality photos that allow tigers to be easily identified and therefore easily monitored. Obtaining data on big cat species has been made easier through the use of camera traps. Areas that were once considered too rugged or inaccessible can now be accessed through camera trapping protocols created to establish a foundation for long-term monitoring.
If there is anything a photograph of a big cat taken in the wild can do, it’s gain public support and connection to the issue. Camera traps have allowed for rare sightings of these species in their natural habitat. They have also documented the survival or even extinction of rare species in the wild. Using photos from camera trapping studies, scientists are not only able to further collected data but also transfer these photos into conservation tools for local communities.
Camera trapping technology has seen many developments in recent years which has unlocked a means of studying and monitoring big cat species in a non-invasive way to both the animals and the ecosystem. Swift advances in this technology has led to the large variety of camera trapping brands and digital models on the market that more traditional camera traps must compete with. Newer models have advanced trigger speeds, clear, sharp photos, and larger data capacity. This methodology led to the development of new models and techniques that further maximize the efficiency of capturing the target species while either decreasing the detection of others or maximizing the number of different species captured.
The most recent development in camera trapping technology is real-time photos uploaded to the web from camera traps in the wild for the public to explore and identify. Real-time camera trapping was started by the Zoological Society of London, which simply uses a satellite connection to send real-time photos. The Zoological Society of London has in turn taken this advanced technology one step further to create a citizen science project which allows the public to increase their scientific knowledge. The community can assist in identifying photographed species through an online forum. The ability to continually monitor big cat species in real time from a wide variety of locations globally is a huge achievement for the conservation community and increasing public outreach and engagement.
Camera trapping may be one of the long-term conservation tools that can help bring big cat species back from their endangered status and save them from extinction. Through understanding the ecological niche that big cats hold in the environment, progress can be made with the use of this technology. By using camera traps, research can extend to a larger area, more species can be studied, and conservation impacts will be strengthened. This technology provides an opportunity for more unique research methods to be employed. The impressive growth that has been seen in camera trap studies shows the immense potential. As advancements in camera trapping are continuously made, these can motivate the collaboration between communities, their local governments, and scientists by highlighting the possibilities of success. Last but not least, finding ways to marry different methods and techniques to work will only take conservation efforts and planning to the next level. This centralized, sensitive data cannot be underestimated, but improved integration, consensus, and collaboration would be tremendous for ecology and conservation.
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