The measurement of physical traits of animals is an important topic in animal ecology and wildlife management, but it is quite difficult to achieve an acceptable level of accuracy, especially for free‐ranging wild animals. As a non‐invasive method, camera trapping has become a common tool for detecting and monitoring wild animals. In this study, we combined camera‐trapping images and a photogrammetry technique to present a camera trap‐based photogrammetric estimation (CTPE) approach for robust measurement of morphological traits of animals. We first tested our method in a captive population of fallow deer (Dama dama) and compared the estimated shoulder heights by CTPE with corresponding hand measurements. The results revealed a remarkable accuracy, with an expected measurement error within ± 5 cm. Second, we mainly demonstrated a field application of CTPE in a wild population of Altai wapiti (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) in the Kanas National Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China. For wapiti, we found that the average shoulder height of males was 135 ± 9 cm (mean ± sd, n = 30) and that of females was 125 ± 6 cm (n = 37), with all data significantly fitting a normal distribution. We did not find any differences in CTPE results among cameras, between photograph types (colour vs. black and white) or temperatures. No significant difference existed between our results and the hand‐measured shoulder heights of wapiti from deer farms. Finally, we discussed the strengths, limitations and potential extensions of the method. We suggest that the combination of camera trapping and the photogrammetry technique is quite promising and that CTPE has great potential in wildlife field investigations.
There are arguments in support of and against use of tiger farming as a tool for the conservation of wild tigers Panthera tigris. Public attitude toward tiger farming can be a useful reference for tiger conservation. To fill this knowledge gap, we surveyed 677 citizens and 381 college students in Beijing to understand their knowledge of tiger conservation and attitude toward tiger farming. The results of ranking questions showed that with regard to the value of tigers, ecological, cultural and aesthetic, and scientific and educational value were ranked as the top three; legislation on wildlife protection and establishment of nature reserves were ranked as the top conservation methods; and poaching and illegal trade, human disturbance and loss of habitat were ranked as the top threatening factors. Apparently, medicinal and healthcare use as well as value as status symbols can be considered the main consumption motivations that trigger poaching and illegal trade. With regard to farming of tigers and the aspects of whether tigers should be farmed, the number of farmed tigers, how to dispose of farmed tigers and so on, we found that most of respondents considered farming of tigers to be a social undertaking and found it difficult to relate to commercial purposes. The results showed that people hold clear positions on arguments for and against the ban on tiger trade and were inclined to support the ban on trading tiger products, especially college students. We also found that the respondents were more balanced toward arguments in support of the use of farmed tigers than arguments against it. bs_bs_banner Animal Conservation. Print
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