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Camera Trapping
When one talks about estimating wild animal densities or identifying individual animals from a population of a species that has
body patterns unique to each individual (for example tiger, leopard, hyaena, snow leopard, clouded leopard, other striped or spotted
small cats), the technique that comes to mind is camera trapping. Apart from being more reliable than other methods, its added
advantage is that it can be implemented across vast landscapes once the forest staff is adequately trained. In fact, in the last All
India Tiger Estimation exercise carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2014, an astonishingly vast
forest area of over 3,50,000 sq. km. spread across 18 states of India was surveyed.
Camera traps are nothing but cameras mounted on posts such as tree trunks or wooden boles approximately 3.5 - 4 m. on
both sides of a potential animal trail, with an infrared beam (invisible to animals) set at a height of about 45 cm. Animals such as
tigers, leopards and hyaenas repeatedly travel along certain trails, communicating with other individuals of their species through
scent markings. Camera traps are placed on such routes to maximise photo-capture of the target species. Camera trap points are
selected based on the presence of signs such as scats, scrapes, tracks, claw markings and scent deposits. When an animal cuts the
infrared beam, the circuitry triggers the camera and a picture is taken. A set of two cameras, one on each side of the trail, helps in
identifying unique individuals as the pattern on both sides of the body varies. Date, time and location of each photographic capture
are noted. Animals are identifi ed from photographs by comparing stripe or spot patterns. Shapes, specifi c individual stripes and the
positions of several such stripes on diff erent individuals are compared to unambiguously identify individuals.
Camera trapping exercises almost always provide extremely important information about the presence and ecological role
of other lesser-known, elusive species such as pangolin, civet, wolf, fox, ratel, mouse deer, marten, porcupine and nocturnal birds.
Additionally, vital information on disturbances caused by human activities such as hunting of wildlife, collection of fi rewood, and
livestock grazing is also captured. The forest department with the help of this information has made several arrests.Dr. Anish Andheria, a conservation biologist, naturalist and wildlife photographer, is the
President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, a not for profi t working in and around 140
national parks and sanctuaries in 23 Indian states to safeguard natural ecosystems by
strengthening the protection mechanism of forests and building capacity in local communities.