Biodiversity on a global scale is in decline, particularly amongst large vertebrates, with most positive
indicators (covering species’ population trends, extinction risk, habitat extent and condition, and
community composition) showing no evidence of significant reduction in rates. Negative indicators
of pressures on biodiversity, however, (including resource consumption, invasive alien species,
nitrogen pollution, overexploitation, and climate change impacts) show an increasing tread.
This decrease in biodiversity and degradation of natural habitats hosting species populations is
widely undisputed. Monitoring how wildlife populations respond to modern threats is, therefore,
critically important, including the ecosystems functionality and intra-community interactions to
implement appropriate conservation strategies and management. To accomplish this, regular
updated data on wildlife population density and degree of interspecies interaction is considered
essential to evaluate spatiotemporal variation in communities and populations.
Conservation efforts, in-particular relating to field work required for data collection, is usually
limited by time, and resources availability (such as, people and finances). Conventional methods
such as road transects, and aerial surveys often come short in quantifying small, nocturnal and
elusive species. Camera traps, however, are an efficient alternative approach to ensure continuous
sampling to study animal behaviour and conduct population estimate. Camera traps are enabling
monitoring within difficult to access areas and assess mammal faunas in dense vegetation or where
animals are elusive (for example, where hunting pressure is intense).
We conducted an inaugural camera trap survey in June 2023, as part of a five-year monitoring study,
to assist with creating a species inventory on Terrafou Conservancy, and estimate species
abundance, density and distribution. Our results have captured some species that are not frequently
visible on game drives, such as African wildcat (Felis lybica) and brown hyeana (Parahyaena
brunnea). We have also recorded smaller mammal species such as banded mongoose (Mungos
mungo) and civet (Cvettictis civetta) across the Conservancy. A quantitative analysis of the data will
give us insights on densities of impact predators such as hyenas and leopards. Our goal is to conduct
annual surveys as they will ultimately show population trends of such cryptic and critical species in
the long term.