World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Hello all,
I have become interested in camera traps and the possibility of using them in remote areas. I was wondering what are the best reccommendations for camera traps that have long battery lifes and could potentially beam images up via satellite as they are taken?
Adding to that, one of the biggest things in utilizing camera traps is having people to go out and change the batteries and/or collect the data. I was wondering what people's thoughts would be in having citizen scientists do that, kind of similar to what Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation already does for American Prairie Reserve?
5 October 2016 4:53am
>best recommendation for camera traps that have long battery lifes and could potentially beam images up via satellite as they are taken
How do you define long battery life?
And what do you mean by beaming images up via satellite?
What cameras are you considering, that might help narrow it down...
> I was wondering what people's thoughts would be in having citizen scientists do that
So my thoughts are in regards to this, is that you have to reduce the risk of human error. My recommendation would be to ensure that your cameras have clear IDs on them, and that they should be distinct from the trap station ID. Eg you call the Trap Station: Station-01 and the Camera is Cam-52 for example.
Similarly you should ALSO put IDs on the memory cards. Eg Mem-325
So when they collect the images, they have to record the Station number, the Camera number AND the Memory card number. This will radically reduce error in data collection. Because you can quickly identify if a Camera has the wrong timestamp or poor picture quality, and if a Memory Card is damaged and trace it back!
Your citizen scientists should have attention to detail and legible handwriting. :-)
Also they should be trained in checking the camera timestamp.
5 October 2016 5:06am
Oh, and a good question to ask at this point too, is how do you plan to species ID and analyse your data? Sometimes you have to design your survey to match the software!
6 October 2016 6:27pm
Hi, are you aware of the Anti-Poaching Cam developed by Panthera?
See: https://www.panthera.org/panthera-targets-illegal-wildlife-trade-leading-edge-anti-poaching-and-law-enforcement-initiative
Cheers,
Jan-Kees
8 March 2017 5:12pm
Hi Sir
Have long battery lifes: camera traps with solar charger or 18650 Batteries (Battery box is able to hold 6pcs rechargeable 18650 lithium batteries, it will bring 3 years of standby time. ).
beam images up via satellite as they are taken: via satellite is tooo expensive. For citizen scientists , 3G/4G will be fair enough if the seting site have 3G/4G sigal. (Send thumbnail to MMS/Email/FTP automatically via MMS/Email, send original picture at 12MP and video (<50MB) to Email/FTP via Email automatically.)
regards
Kai / China
Heidi H
Fauna & Flora