ARMCHAIR CONSERVATION OF THE BIG CATS
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What is citizen science and why is it important?
Citizen science is defined as “the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists"[1]. Citizen science has become an important tool for its ability to enlist the help of the general public to participate in scientific research projects. Public participation in turn increases scientific literacy by increasing awareness and understanding of science and conservation issues [2]. Furthermore, it also validates the participant’s efforts
by making a valuable contribution toward solutions to real-world issues in the scientific community. A key motivating factor for the online citizen scientist is a sincere interest in a particular issue coupled with a genuine desire to make a difference in improving its outcome [3].
It is fortunate that the technology of today makes citizen involvement accessible and relatively simple for those of us who have at the very least a basic knowledge of the workings of computers and mobile applications. Through the use of online tools, citizen scientist volunteers can find projects that align with their interests. They can then learn the techniques and procedures required to make inquiries, collect and submit data, and process and evaluate the data electronically [4].
Importance of the camera trap in wildlife conservation research
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A camera trap is a digital camera with a motion-activated infrared sensor that
snaps a photo whenever it senses movement. While camera traps have been in existence for over a century, the automated version has shown a surge in popularity since the 1990’s [5]. The beauty of the camera trap is that it is a non-invasive tool that has transformed wildlife conservation research by capturing images and video of rarely seen animals in the wild. It is an effective monitoring tool of the big cats because it provides an image of a cat’s unique markings (tiger stripes, leopard spots, etc.) which help to identify that animal. This is particularly useful for monitoring individuals for population counts, tracking animal movements, studying individual behaviors, and for conservation planning of populations of big cats and other wildlife [6] [7] .
