Camera Trapping
Kenneth Anderson Nature Society (KANS) started the Camera Trapping exercise in May 2011 with the primary
aim of documenting the biodiversity in Melagiri by getting photographic evidences. As the animals in Melgiri
are extremely timid and shy due to human interferences, KANS decided that the best way to get photographs
was to deploy camera traps at different locations in the field. Camera traps are silent and effective as they detect
motion and body heat to take photographs automatically.
The camera trapping project is undertaken to support the Vision of KANS, ie, conservation of Melagiri and
its wild denizens. Conservation cannot work if we don’t know what we are trying to conserve. This project is
aimed at understanding and filling that gap.
The purpose of the camera trapping project can be broadly classified into two – Primary objective and Sub-
objectives.
1. Primary objective:
- To obtain photographic evidences of fauna in the various ranges of Melagiri.
2. Sub-objectives:
- To capture movement of cattle in the forest.
- To identify human disturbances such as vehicular movement, movement of people along forest
tracks/trails etc.
Method of deployment:
A suitable range is selected based on claims of animal activity. The traps are then placed in a selected beat
within the range based on direct or indirect evidences.
As of now KANS has deployed three camera traps in the field. These have been successful in getting
photographs of leopard, small indian civet, palm civet, sambar deer, elephant, wild boar, spotted deer etc.
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