Camera Deployments to Observe Animals

Using set cameras to monitor and observe animal behaviour unobtrusively is a technique that has been used time and time again by researchers and wildlife filmmakers alike. On land, these cameras are often triggered by either motion sensors or infrared sensors. Having a person filming, or being in close proximity to animals can often scare them, or at the very least, change their behaviour. These camera set ups take the human out of the equation, and allow us to observe the animal’s true natural behaviour.

This technique has been expanded and enhanced by the likes of the BBC Earth natural history series Penguin: Spy in the huddle and Elephant: Spy in the herd. Similarly, National Geographic’s Critter Cam cameras recorded behaviour from the point of view of the animal itself.

 

Our current camera deployment with just a basic GoPro (Image: Simon Hilbourne)

The Maldivian Manta Ray Project is sticking to the basics and keeping things simple. Our camera deployments won’t be disguised as a swimming manta or hidden in a model remora (maybe something for next year!). What our cameras will be able to do though is greatly increase the amount of survey time we have of manta ray cleaning stations. Currently, if we snorkel or dive at cleaning stations, we are limited to around an hour and our presence can disturb the mantas.

Last year, we used simple GoPro deployments which consisted of just the camera with no extra batteries. Over 80 deployments of these cameras (equivalent to 6 days of continuous footage), we recorded 47 hours of manta ray cleaning! By placing the cameras on the edge of the cleaning stations and angled up, we are also able to collect ID images of the mantas. We collected 118 IDs of mantas, which all contributes to the understanding of manta migrations in and around Baa atoll in the Maldives.

The idea behind this new project is to extend the recording time of each camera by x15. As we have it, our cameras record for around 2-3 hours. With the extended batteries, time-lapse controller, and only recording during daylight hours, this should be increased to 3-4 days (35 hours of daylight) offering a huge increase in the amount of data we can collect.