For over a decade WildCRU, in collaboration with the WildCAT Trust Zimbabwe, have conducted extensive camera trap surveys across Botswana and Zimbabwe to establish baseline population densities of large carnivores in protected areas. Through repeated assessments, these surveys provide crucial insights into population trends, supporting long-term conservation efforts.
CONSERVATION CONTEXT
Biodiversity is declining worldwide, and many wildlife populations in vulnerable ecosystems lack reliable data on their status. Understanding species abundance and tracking population trends is essential for effective conservation. These insights help identify at-risk populations and assess the impact of conservation efforts.
Location of camera trap surveys completed in northern Botswana
Location of camera trap surveys completed in northwest Zimbabwe
APPROACH
Our research spans key ecosystems across Botswana and Zimbabwe, focusing on national parks, wildlife management areas, and private conservancies. Many of these areas support diverse carnivore species but face increasing threats ranging from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. We use camera traps strategically placed across the landscape to capture images of all species, primarily large carnivores such as lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, wild dogs, and cheetahs. These images are first processed and classified to the species level using advanced AI tools (TrapTagger) that were co-developed by WildCRU. Once identified at the individual level, the resulting datasets are subsequently analysed using advanced statistical techniques such as spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) to estimate population densities. Our work provides critical data to conservation organizations, park authorities, and policymakers, supporting informed decision-making.
PROGRAMME IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
camera trap surveys carried out across Botswana and Zimbabwe to estimate baseline populations
of surveys have been repeated to assess population changes over time
species population density estimates derived from camera trap surveys
PROGRAMME MEMBERS
Professor Andrew Loveridge is the Director, and Dr Lara Sousa and Dr Matthew Wijers are postdoctoral researchers on the programme. Justin Seymour-Smith is the survey manager in Zimbabwe, and through our collaborator, the Wildlife and Communities Action Trust, works with Andrea Sibanda and Jaime Maidwell as survey coordinators and Never Nyoni who assists the team. In Botswana Robynne Kotze has been our survey manager, working with a team through our collaborators at the Conservation of Natural Ecosystems Trust (CONNECT).
Justin Seymour-Smith
Survey Manager
Andrea Sibanda
Survey Coordinator
Jaime Maidwell
Survey Coordinator
Never Nyoni
Survey Assistant
PROGRAMME PARTNERS
Our field teams work through the Wildlife and Communities Action Trust and The Conservation of Natural Ecosystems Trust, in partnership with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Botswana and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. We are grateful for the long-term support of Panthera and the Lion Recovery Fund and to countless other conservation entities who support our efforts.
