Dmitry Gorshkov (SABR Director) is greeting the
participants of the Cameratraps Introduction Seminar
held in cooperation with WCS Russia
A training seminar titled "Using camera traps for monitoring and research of wildlife populations" took place over January 25-30 2016 in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve and at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s research center in Ternei.
Its goal was to provide background information for those wildlife practitioners who recently started using camera traps, for those who would like to start using them, and for those who already have some experience but would like more information on how to analyze and manage data they obtained.
"In recent years, camera traps have become a very popular method of collecting wildlife data all over the world. However, they are often used without clearly stated goals, or without the use of a clear methodology needed to reach the desired objectives. During our training we will try to "guide" the participants through the entire process of conducting research using camera traps: starting with stating and correctly formulating goals, on to obtaining, storing, and analyzing the data", says Dale Miquelle, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Russia Program.
The Introduction Seminar on Cameratraps
was attended by more then 30 participants
from all over the Russia
This seminar was organized by employees of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, who acquired many years of experience successfully conducting camera trap surveys of the Amur tiger, Far Eastern leopard, and Amur goral.
The seminar was attended by over 30 participants. Among them are employees of 11 reserves, 2 national parks, 2 Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, several environmental NGOs, students of the Far Eastern Federal University, and a representative of a major Russian camera trap supplier company.
"Such gatherings provide a unique opportunity to meet professionals with experience using camera traps to study different animals, from birds to tigers and bears. The exchange of experience, and discussion of problems each researcher encounters in their work, present an opportunity to take a fresh look at the issue and to learn about each participant’s ways of using cameras, and their tricks of the trade" says Svetlana Soutyrina, Deputy Director for Science at the Sikhote Alin Reserve.
Outdoor practice for participants of the
Cameratraps Introduction Seminar
As part of the training, field work was carried out in using camera traps to assess the sika deer population in the Blagodatnoe area of the Reserve, and workshops were conducted on the use of current software for individual identification of animals from photos and on the statistical analysis of information. This knowledge will enable participants to elevate the quality of their research and obtain interesting data.
"For us, this is the first, and rather successful, experience in carrying out such a large-scale training event. Our Reserve and our colleagues from the Wildlife Conservation Society have vast expertise and knowledge in the field of research and wildlife conservation, so we can confidently say that this seminar is one of many to come. Even now we are putting together a program for a following seminar" said Dmitry Gorshkov, Director of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve.
Setting camera-traps - outdoor practice learning for participants of the Cameratraps Introduction Seminar
Presentation by Sorokoput Co. - one of the main distributor of cameratraps in Russia
Contacts:
Olga Arifulina: Deputy Director for Environmental Education at the Sikhote-Alin State Reserve
Cell: 8 (904) 620-91-37
Work: 8 (42374) 03/31/68
Email: sikhote-eco@yandex.ru
Svetlana Soutyrina: Deputy Director for Science at the Sikhote-Alin State Reserve
Cell: 8 (914) 690-46-44
Work: 8 (42374) 03/31/65
Email: sikhote-science@mail.ru
Dale Miquelle - Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program
Cell: 8 (914) 969-02-80
Work: 8 (423) 241-00-33, 241-49-06
Email: dmiquelle@wcs.org
Alexander Reebin - Field Consultant of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Russia Program
Cell: 8 (914) 670-92-85
Work: 8 (423) 241-00-33, 241-49-06
Email: areebin@wcs.org.