Software Helps Scientists Identify Tigers

New software has been developed that will help wildlife researchers to better identify tigers photographed via remote cameras. The software, developed by experts from Conservation Research Ltd. and the Wildlife Conservation Society, relies on technology similar to that of fingerprint-matching software used by crime investigators.

Camera trap photography is a non-intrusive method for studying animals in their natural habitat. Camera traps are automatic, motion-sensitive cameras that are placed at various locations throughout a study site. They are equipped with infrared triggers that snap an image when an animal wanders through the field of vision.

Camera traps are used extensively to study wild tigers. Images of tigers are captured by the camera trap and researchers inspect the photos to identify individual tigers. Scientists can estimate the sizes of local tiger population by measuring how many times individual tigers are re-photographed. Previously, the process of identifying individual tigers was time-intensive and methodical. But now, this new software enables fast matching of the individual stripe patterns.

"This new software will make it much easier for conservationists to identify individual tigers and estimate populations. The fundamentals of tiger conservation are knowing how many tigers live in a study area before you can start to measure success." ~ Ullas Karanth, Senior Conservation Scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The software, available for download at www.conservationresearch.co.uk, has also been applied to zebras, grey seals, cheetahs, whale sharks, wildebeest, salamanders, chital, and crested newts. When used to identify tigers, the software was measured to be up to 95 percent accurate.

Find out more:

• Tracking Tigers in 3-D (Eurekalert)
• www.conservationresearch.co.uk

Photo © Wildlife Conservation Society.