Wild animals and poachers in the camera trap.

A pioneering method for studying and monitoring endangered species, based on camera traps placed in protected areas around the world, has provided a first comprehensive picture of the decline in wild mammal populations. It also confirmed an obvious suspicion of scientists. Biodiversity is directly related to the size of a nature reserve. The first results of the survey cover the period 2008-2010. 420 thermal cameras (60 in each region, and one every two square kilometres) were installed in seven countries on three continents. This initial database (52,000 photos) has already been enriched since 2010 with the deployment of a new monitoring network in another 17 tropical regions. Given the importance of wild mammals as indicators of the health of an ecosystem (without them, forests have more difficulty in retaining carbon dioxide), the information collected on such a comprehensive scale will allow specific actions to save them to be even more targeted. This major research is being carried out as part of the TEMM (Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring Network), a "consortium" involving Conservation International, The Missouri Botanical Garden, The Smithsonian Institution and the Wildlife Conservation Society. In addition to making the photographs public, TEMM plans to offer the public access to the software for their analysis. Professor Jorge Ahumada insisted on the "diffusion" of information collection as he presented the results of the study : "Involving citizens in science is great. The more information we have, the more we know is happening".

24/06/2025

LiFO team

Pan troglodytes (commonly known as chimpanzee). Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda).

Panthera onca (jaguar).Volcan Barva (Costa Rica).

Loxodonta Africana (African elephant). Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania).

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. Poacher.

This image is one of nearly 52,000 photos taken as part of the first global camera trap mammal study done by The Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring Network (TEAM)

To learn more visit: http://www.conservation.org

Courtesy of Wildlife Conservation Society, a member of the TEAM network – www.teamnetwork.org

PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded at no charge for one-time use for the first “Global Camera Trap Mammal” study. No copying, distribution or archiving permitted. No sublicensing, sale or resale permitted.

REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must be properly credited to Wildlife Conservation Society as part of the TEAM Network Partnership/www.teamnetwork.org. All images must be accompanied by a caption, which makes reference to the first “Global Camera Trap Mammal” study. Any uses in which the image appears without proper credit and caption referencing the “First Global Camera Trap Mammal Study” are subject to a separate written use agreement.

Macaca Nemestrina. Bukit Barisan Selatan (Indonesia).

Poacher in sight ! Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda).

Leopardus pardalis. Volcan Barva (Costa Rica).

Muntiacus Muntjak. Nam Kading (Laos).

Tapirus terrestris. Manaus (Brasil).

Leopardus wiedii. Manaus (Brasil).

Macaca leonina. Nam Kading (Laos).

Loxodonta africana. Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania).

Gorilla beringei beringei. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda).

Another poacher… Nam Kading (Laos).

Nasua narica. Volcan Barva (Costa Rica).

Sincerus caffer (African buffalo). Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania).

Tapirus terrestris. Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname).

Macaca Nemestrina. Bukit Barisan Selatan (Indonesia).

Pecari Tajacu. Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname).

Cuniculus paca. Manaus (Brasil).

Myrmecophaga tridactyla. Manaus (Brasil).

Tayassu pecari. central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname).

Central Suriname Nature Reserve, Suriname. Marmosa murina (Linnaeus’s mouse opossum). This was the smallest animal photographed. Body length is approximately 4-5 inches with a tail of 5-8 inches. It weighs about 26 g

This image is one of nearly 52,000 photos of 105 mammal species, taken as part of the first global camera trap mammal study done by The Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring Network (TEAM)

To learn more visit: http://www.conservation.org

Courtesy of Conservation International Suriname, a member of the TEAM network – www.teamnetwork.org

REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must be properly credited to Conservation International Suriname as part of the TEAM Network Partnership/www.teamnetwork.org. All images must be accompanied by a caption, which makes reference to the first “Global Camera Trap Mammal” study. Any uses in which the image appears without proper credit and caption referencing the “First Global Camera Trap Mammal Study” are subject to a separate written use agreement.

Tamandua mexicana. volcan Barva (Costa Rica).

Marmosa murina. The smallest animal in the photos. Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname).

Here is a tourist in the forest with her guide ! Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda).

Puma concolor. volcan Barva (Costa Rica).

Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Panthera pardus (African leopard), a near threatened species.

This image is one of nearly 52,000 photos of 105 mammal species, taken as part of the first global camera trap mammal study done by The Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring Network (TEAM)

To learn more visit: http://www.conservation.org

Courtesy of Museo delle Scienze (Trento Museum of Science), a member of the TEAM network – www.teamnetwork.org

PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded at no charge for one-time use for the first ÒGlobal Camera Trap MammalÓ study. No copying, distribution or archiving permitted. No sublicensing, sale or resale permitted.

REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must be properly credited to Museo delle Scienze (Trento Museum of Science) as part of the TEAM Network Partnership/www.teamnetwork.org. All images must be accompanied by a caption, which makes reference to the first ÒGlobal Camera Trap MammalÓ study. Any uses in which the image appears without proper credit and caption referencing the ÒFirst Global Camera Trap Mammal StudyÓ are subject to a separate written use agreement.

Genetta servalina lowei. Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania).