27 – Community involvement in monitoring threatened species: a WWF perspective^351either very obscure or unclear. This means the NBP team can reliably use Wildlife
Spotter for individual photo identification when there is a majority result.
The rate of success was high, mainly due to safeguards put in place by the
development team. Identification errors have been mitigated by replicated analysis
(five users identifying the same photo), allowing inconsistent opinions to be
excluded or reviewed. Users are more likely to classify an animal as a bettong if
they are unsure; however, the reliance on majority opinion eliminates this bias. The
design of the website helps to minimise confusion over similar-looking species.
Options for classifying each photo changed depending on what animals were
known to occupy the study area, greatly narrowing down choices for the user.
Difficult to distinguish animals were grouped together, meaning that ‘bettongs’
was a single choice in the classification tool, grouping together both northern
bettong and rufous bettong Aepyprymnus rufescens.
Wildlife Spotter reliably works for easily identifiable species, but has limitations
for similar-looking animals. The grouping of rufous with northern bettongs means
bettong photos still need be reviewed to determine species. Still, Wildlife Spotter
has whittled down the enormous number of starting images to around one quarter
of the original dataset.
Case study 2: rock-wallabies and Indigenous engagement
Threatened rock-wallabies are a WWF target species group (WWF-Australia 2016).
Rock-wallabies are restricted to rocky escapements and outcrops; threats include
inappropriate fire regimes, introduced predators, competition from introduced
herbivores and habitat degradation (Pearson 2012). In the Kimberley, WWF
focusses on three threatened rock-wallabies (Petrogale concinna, P. burbidgei and P.
lateralis West Kimberley Race).
The program’s objective is to determine current distribution and population
trends of the three rock-wallaby species. Surveys are designed to verify historical
records and sample new sites with potentially suitable habitat (i.e. rocky areas).
Monitoring is being established in areas where species are located. The size of the
survey region and the difficulty and expense involved with accessing sites means
that efficient survey methods are particularly important. The program uses sensor
cameras in conjunction with scat collection (for later analysis) as primary survey
methods carried out by Indigenous Rangers and WWF staff (Fig. 27.3).
Native title determinations have been made over ~70% of the Kimberley, and
Indigenous Protected Areas have been declared on over 20% of the region
(Kimberley Land Council n.d.). The rock-wallaby project covers a variety of tenures
including privately owned, jointly managed national park, Indigenous Protected
Areas, and freehold land, but all sites are on land with native title determinations.
The project was developed in partnership with Traditional Owners and Indigenous