WildTrack Associates
1. JMP from SAS. www.jmp.com www.sas.com
Principal Research Associates
We use JMP data visualization software to inspire and inform our research in conservation montoring. We have helped develop imaging, data analytics and mapping platforms in JMP to provide a cohesive approach to non-invasive monitoring solutions.
2. Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. www.nicholas.duke.edu
Adjunct Associate Professors
We teach on the Advanced Conservation Biology course in the Pimm Lab, regularly present to the Big Cat Initiative group, co-supervise an international group of PhD and Masters students, and collaborate widely with faculty in both the Nicholas School and Pratt School of Engineering.
3. Center for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) www.uts.edu.au
Associate Academics
We are working with Dr Daniel Ramp, founder of the Center for Compassionate Conservation at the UTS, to develop innovative and non-invasive solutions for wildlife monitoring in Australia.
4. Electrical Engineering Dept., NC State University. www.nscu.edu
With Dr Edgar Lobaton and Dr Wes Snyder of NC State University we are working to develop automated approaches to footprint image segmentation and co-supervising PhD student Namita Lokare.
5. Virginia Commonwealth University www.vcu.edu
Together with Dr Tracey Cruz Dawson, Assistant Professor of Forensic Sciences and Biology, we are developing methods of extracting DNA of endangered species from footprints. This will enable more efficient DNA collection, and provide identification where footprints may be poor quality.
6. Texas Parks and Wildlife Service
With State Mammalogist Jonah Evans, we have developed a FIT algorithm to identify mountain lion in Texas, the only state in the USA which provides no legal protection for this beautiful animal. Using footprints and other non-invasive approaches we hope to provide a means to monitor these animals.
www.naturetracking.com/about
https://wildtrack.org/where-are-the-mountain-lions/
7. Feline Research Center of the China State Forestry Administration and Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.
With Dr Guangshun Jiang, Director of the FRC-CSFA and professor at the North-East Forestry University, Harbin, China, we are working to develop techniques for monitoring the elusive Amur tiger in north-east China. Co-supervising PhD student Jiayin Gu, we have, for the first time, used footprints to identify and sex free-ranging Amur tigers.
8. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.
http://www.chinapanda.org.cn
With Dr Li Desheng, Dr Huang Jinyan and Duke PhD student Binbin Li, we’re working with staff at the CCRCGP in Ya’an, south-west China, to develop a footprint identification technique for the Giant panda. It will provide a means for captive-bred pandas to be reintroduced to the wild but monitored using footprints.
9. Naankuse Wildlife Research Unit, Namibia.
Working with Research Director Florian Weise and Research Biologist Stu Munro we have developed a FIT algorithm that has proved effective at identifying cheetah by individual, sex and age-class. With Florian we are working to persuade local landowners to tolerate free-ranging cheetah living alongside livestock, and monitoring interactions using non-invasive techniques.
10. Carolina Tiger Rescue (CTR) Pittsboro www.carolinatigerrescue.org
With the help of staff and tigers at CTR we have, over the last 12 years, collected an extensive tiger footprint database. This has allowed us to validate an FIT algorithm for this species against free-ranging tiger prints. We’re now working with tiger researchers in India to monitor these animals in situ using non-invasive approaches.