Scientific Services

The 11 participants who attended the workshop at the Cape Research Centre, Tokai. An additional six participants joined the workshop virtually. Photo: SANParks.

Following the successful baited remote underwater video (BRUV) best practice workshop held at the Cape Research Centre in October, another insightful workshop was recently organized. This time, the focus was on best practices for camera trapping in conservation. On 21 November 2023, SANParks Scientific Services colleagues, alongside experts from notable conservation organizations including the Cape Leopard Trust, Panthera, and the Wilderness Foundation, convened for a knowledge-sharing session dedicated to enhancing our understanding of best practices in camera trapping.

Camera trap set up in Table Mountain National Park. Photo: SANParks.

The workshop centred on a comprehensive exchange of insights from each participating organization, highlighting the methods and procedures fundamental to effective camera trapping. Discussion topics ranged from methods of site selection for camera deployment, selection of camera types, strategic site deployment, actual setup, and deployment procedures, to invaluable tips and advice.

Dr Gareth Mann of Panthera providing some best practice tips and techniques for camera trap surveys. Photo: SANParks.

Dr Katy Williams and Anita Wilkinson from the Cape Leopard Trust shared their extensive field techniques in setting up cameras across the Western Cape to monitor leopards and their prey distribution, activity and habitat preferences. Similarly, Dr Gareth Mann and Shannon Dubay from Panthera explained their camera trapping survey field procedures, emphasizing the global scope of their work focusing on wildcat occurrences, distribution, population density, and individual monitoring and identification. The Wilderness Foundation highlighted their innovative use of camera traps and associated footage as tools for engaging private landowners in contract parks and potential National Park expansion areas. Their ad hoc deployment of camera traps serves as an exciting tool for property owners, offering insights into the wildlife inhabiting their land and fostering enthusiasm for conservation efforts.

Workshop participants also delved into the management of camera trap data, discussing data processing and storage procedures once retrieved from the field. Detailed conversations revolved around data curation, processing, and analysis techniques, as well as the utilization of software or tools for automated species identification and classification. Dr Nicholas Osner from WildEye Conservation introduced participants to TrapTagger, a web-based tool designed for processing and analysing camera trap data.

The workshop highlighted the importance of

• having well-managed metadata.
• adhering to fundamental procedures in camera trapping, standardizing metadata fields and attributes, such as GPS coordinates and date/time formats, and regularly checking and servicing cameras in the field.
• having detailed data management plans encompassing project methodology, procedures, software tools, and other critical aspects related to data handling.
• using open-source software like R for data analysis and leveraging packages such as camtrapR and secr.
• SANParks making bycatch (species or events captured on footage that are not the primary focus of a study) data more readily available for external researchers or academic students interested in utilizing the information.
• having sufficient capacity to manage the substantial volume of data generated by camera trapping, including ample storage for footage and reliable backup systems.

Left: Benjamin Gazeau, Groen Sebenza intern who works on a camera trapping project at the Cape Research Centre showing colleagues the procedure followed in the field when checking and servicing camera traps. Right: Participants taking a walk through the forest areas of Orangekloof, Table Mountain National Park. Photos: SANParks.

The workshop concluded on 22 November 2023, with SANParks colleagues embarking on a site visit to the Orangekloof Section of Table Mountain National Park, getting a firsthand ‘tour’ of what camera trapping in Table Mountain is like. Overall, the insights gathered from both the BRUV and camera trapping workshops underscore the significance of creating platforms and promoting spaces for engagement and capacity building. These forums not only facilitate meaningful interactions among researchers but also initiate discussions on networking, potential collaborations, and the invaluable sharing of experiences. SANParks extends its heartfelt thanks to all the participants who contributed their expertise and enthusiasm to both workshops, enriching the collective knowledge and spirit of conservation.