Journal
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
Volume 24, Issue 4, Pages 593-601Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1890/13-1971.1
Keywords
African elephants, Loxodonta africana; environmental monitoring; geofencing; geographic information systems, GIS; global positioning system, GPS; immobility; real-time monitoring; telemetry; wildlife monitoring
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Funding
- Canadian National Science and Research Council (NSERC)-PGSD3 [348450]
- Save the Elephants, Kenya
- Safaricom Foundation, Kenya
- Google Earth Outreach program
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The expansion of global communication networks and advances in animal-tracking technology make possible the real-time telemetry of positional data as recorded by animal-attached tracking units. When combined with continuous, algorithm-based analytical capability, unique opportunities emerge for applied ecological monitoring and wildlife conservation. We present here four broad approaches for algorithmic wildlife monitoring in real time-proximity, geofencing, movement rate, and immobility-designed to examine aspects of wildlife spatial activity and behavior not possible with conventional tracking systems. Application of these four routines to the real-time monitoring of 94 African elephants was made. We also provide details of our cloud-based monitoring system including infrastructure, data collection, and customized software for continuous tracking data analysis. We also highlight future directions of real-time collection and analysis of biological, physiological, and environmental information from wildlife to encourage further development of needed algorithms and monitoring technology. Real-time processing of remotely collected, animal biospatial data promises to open novel directions in ecological research, applied species monitoring, conservation programs, and public outreach and education.
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