Camera traps are an essential tool for the conservationist! 

• They allow scientists to to see the potential biodiversity in an area when they are not present. 
• They are used by many different people for many different reasons including wildlife photography, scientific research and home security.

In recent years the use of camera traps as a survey method has increased in popularity as camera technology has improved and the cost of the equipment has decreased. Scientists use them in several ways:

• They assess species diversity by measuring all of the species observed within set time frames.
• They estimate population sizes by using visual surveys or photographic capture–recapture sampling.
• They learn more about animal behaviour through observational studies. You can learn more about these with our Animal Behaviour tour and Animal Behaviour resources.  

Ask your class, "How many conservation studies or projects can you find that use camera traps?"

 Use our exclusive camera trap footage from the field to play the Camera Trap Game below together or individually on separate devices to embed understanding. Identify the native species and discuss, "How could we assess species diversity from these images?"