Surveillance cameras: silent guardians of Galapagos wildlife

For nearly four decades, Galápagos Conservancy has been dedicated to protecting the archipelago's ecosystems and wildlife. Integrating technological advances into our conservation strategies has been key to updating our approach and strengthening our conservation efforts. One of the significant advances has been security cameras. These field-mounted cameras are activated by the movement of passing animals and capture images of wild animals and their interactions without disturbing them. The images collected help us understand the distribution and behavior of species, allowing us to develop evidence-based measures to protect and conserve these unique ecosystems. The cameras provide valuable information on both endemic species and invasive threats, greatly enhancing our understanding of Galapagos wildlife.

Galapagos Trail Camera Network

As part of a comprehensive conservation strategy, we have established a network of trail cameras on many islands in habitats critical to endangered species. We strategically placed camera sets on several islands, including Isabela, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and Hispaniola. The cameras operate for many months, taking millions of pictures, as well as collecting other data such as environmental conditions where the camera is installed.

Using security cameras for research and monitoring

At the Galápagos Conservancy, trail cameras play an important role in our research. They also help conservation authorities combat poaching and wildlife trafficking. We have numerous cameras located in key areas such as critical species nesting sites, giving us extensive photographic data that documents both animal activity and human encroachment into these areas. Cameras have become critical to the effective monitoring and protection of the flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands.

Study of pink iguanas

On the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, the largest of the Galapagos Islands, We have placed over 50 security cameras in the habitat of pink iguanas (Conolophus marthae). Discovered in 1986 and officially described in 2009, the species is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. The images from these cameras help us understand more about the reptiles' natural history and the threats they face, especially when they are young.

Unfortunately, the footage showed wild cats preying on young iguanas when they leave their underground nests. This critical discovery prompted the Galapagos National Park Authority to develop strategies to protect the hatchling pink iguanas, a species on the brink of extinction with only about 300 individuals left.

Analyzing images and converting them into data

We use proprietary software to organize and classify the millions of images our cameras capture to create a comprehensive record of what was found, where and when. This analysis provides in-depth understanding of species abundance and rarity, population dynamics and behavior. Because the cameras are used over a long period of time, they allow us to identify population trends, leading to a better understanding of the needs of wildlife. With this information, we can effectively adjust our conservation strategies and respond to emerging issues. Our data-driven approach is essential to developing precise protections and ensuring the conservation of the unique ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands.

The future of conservation in the Galapagos Islands

Galápagos Conservancy is committed to ongoing improve our conservation efforts and expand our technology. By integrating innovative tools such as trail cameras, we expand our monitoring capabilities and can increase global awareness, resulting in critical support in protecting one of the world's most fragile ecosystems.

The information we collect is vital important for making informed decisions and adapting our strategies as needed. In our next article on how we are innovating our efforts with monitoring technology in the Galapagos Islands, we will look at the use of satellite tracking devices. These additional devices provide particularly important data on animal migration to help us understand the habitat requirements of multiple species.

Source: galapagos.org