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Research Publications

Peer-reviewed papers, reports, and patents documenting WildTrack's non-invasive Footprint Identification Technology (FIT), and the conservation work it supports.

Non‑invasive monitoring

Advance tools for hard‑to‑study species that never require capture or handling.

AI & data science

Apply machine learning and rigorous data science to real field conservation challenges.

Real‑world impact

Support decision‑making for wildlife protection and biodiversity research on the ground.

40 records1992–2026
No. 040
Mmereki, W., Jamisola, R.S., Jr, Jewell, Z.C., Petso, T., Matsebe, O. and Alibhai, S.K. (2026) ‘XTrail-ID: an explainable AI human footprint trail identification on soil substrate using unsupervised machine learning from UAV imagery’, Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction, 8(6), 168. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/make8060168.
AIAfricaHuman Tracks
No. 039
Petso, T., Jamisola, R.S., Jr, Alibhai, S., Lebopo, M., Peter, K., Namoshe, M., Mmereki, W. and Jewell, Z. (2026) ‘Improving wildlife track classification through human-in-the-loop method and explainable AI’, Scientific Reports, 16, 18395. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-48229-4.
AIAfricaRhino track classification
No. 038
Alibhai, S., Avenant, N., Oosthuizen, M., Carlson, L., MacFadyen, D. and Jewell, Z. (2026) ‘A non-invasive footprint technique for accurate identification of cryptic small mammal species: a sengi case study’, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 13, 1719684. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2025.1719684.
EcologyEvolution
No. 037
Petso, T., Jamisola, R.S., Jr, Alibhai, S.K., Namoshe, M., Mmereki, W. and Jewell, Z.C. (2025) ‘An investigation of lightweight AI models to classify African ungulate species from tracks’, Ecological Informatics, 92, 103393. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103393.
AIAfricaRhino
No. 036
Mmereki, W., Jamisola, R.S., Jr, Jewell, Z.C., Petso, T., Matsebe, O. and Alibhai, S.K. (2025) ‘Investigating bounding box, landmark, and segmentation approaches for automatic human barefoot print classification on soil substrates using deep learning’, Forensic Sciences, 5(4), 56. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci5040056.
AIAfricaHuman barefoot
No. 035
Kistner, F., Tulowietzki, J., Slaney, L., Alibhai, S., Jewell, Z., Ramosaj, B. and Pauly, M. (2024) ‘Enhancing endangered species monitoring by lowering data entry requirements with imputation techniques as a preprocessing step for the footprint identification technology (FIT)’, Ecological Informatics, 82, 102676. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102676.
FIT
No. 034
Finerty, G.E., Borrego, N., Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C., Tschanz, P., Balone, T., Gabaikanye, T., Gana, M., Monnaanoka, S., Mamou, M., Pudidaroma, S., Tshiama, M., Tshiama, M., Araldi, A., Crofoot, M.C., Henley, S., Ithuteng, P. and Schiess-Meier, M. (2024) ‘The crossroads of tradition and modern technology: integrative approaches to studying carnivores in low density ecosystems’, Frontiers in Conservation Science, 5, 1402500. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1402500.
FITAfricaBig-Cats
No. 033
Tucker, J.M., King, C., Lekivetz, R., Murdoch, R., Jewell, Z.C. and Alibhai, S.K. (2024) ‘Development of a non-invasive method for species and sex identification of rare forest carnivores using footprint identification technology’, Ecological Informatics, 79, 102431. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102431.
FITAmericas
No. 032
Sterk, M., Santana Cubas, F., Reinhard, B., Reinhard, F., Kleopas, K. and Jewell, Z. (2023) ‘The importance of large pans and surrounding bushveld for black rhino (Diceros bicornis ssp. bicornis) habitat use in the Kalahari: implications for reintroduction and range expansion’, Namibian Journal of Environment, 7(A), pp. 1–13.
RhinoAfrica
No. 031
Alibhai, S.K., Gu, J., Jewell, Z.C., Morgan, J., Liu, D. and Jiang, G. (2023) ‘“I know the tiger by his paw”: a non-invasive footprint identification technique for monitoring individual Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in snow’, Ecological Informatics, 73, 101947. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101947.
Big-CatsAsiaFIT
No. 030
Kistner, F., Slaney, L., Jewell, Z., Ben-David, A. and Alibhai, S. (2022) ‘It’s otterly confusing – distinguishing between footprints of three of the four sympatric Asian otter species using morphometrics and machine learning’, OTTER, Journal of the International Otter Survival Fund, 8, pp. 108–125.
OtterAsiaFIT
No. 029
Hua, A., Martin, K., Shen, Y., Chen, N., Mou, C., Sterk, M., Reinhard, B., Reinhard, F.F., Lee, S., Alibhai, S. and Jewell, Z.C. (2022) ‘Protecting endangered megafauna through AI analysis of drone images in a low-connectivity setting: a case study from Namibia’, PeerJ, 10, e13779. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13779.
DronesAIRhinoAfrica
No. 028
Jewell, Z.C., Alibhai, S.K., Law, P.R., Uiseb, K. and Lee, S. (2020) ‘Monitoring rhinoceroses in Namibia’s private custodianship properties’, PeerJ, 8, e9670. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9670.
RhinoAfricaFIT
No. 027
Law, P.R., Jewell, Z.C. and Alibhai, S.K. (2019) ‘Disassociation between black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) mothers and their calves’, African Journal of Ecology, 57(2), pp. 268–269. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12582.
RhinoAfrica
No. 026
Jewell, Z. and Alibhai, S. (2018) Classification system for similar objects from digital images. US Patent 9,911,066 B2. Available at: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9911066B2.
FIT
No. 025
Moreira, D.O., Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C., da Cunha, C.J., Seibert, J.B. and Gatti, A. (2018) ‘Determining the numbers of a landscape architect species (Tapirus terrestris), using footprints’, PeerJ, 6, e4591. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4591.
TapirAmericasFIT
No. 024
Li, B.V., Alibhai, S., Jewell, Z., Li, D. and Zhang, H. (2018) ‘Using footprints to identify and sex giant pandas’, Biological Conservation, 218, pp. 83–90. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.11.029.
FITGiant-PandaAsia
No. 023
Alibhai, S., Jewell, Z. and Evans, J. (2017) ‘The challenge of monitoring elusive large carnivores: an accurate and cost-effective tool to identify and sex pumas (Puma concolor) from footprints’, PLoS ONE, 12(3), e0172065. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172065.
FITBig-CatsAmericas
No. 022
Jewell, Z.C., Alibhai, S.K., Weise, F., Munro, S., Van Vuuren, M. and Van Vuuren, R. (2016) ‘Spotting cheetahs: identifying individuals by their footprints’, Journal of Visualized Experiments, (111), e54034. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3791/54034.
FITAfricaBig-Cats
No. 021
Pimm, S., Jewell, Z. and Alibhai, S. (2016) ‘Protecting global diversity’ [Forum response to O’Brien, J., ‘Technologies for conserving biodiversity in the Anthropocene’], Issues in Science and Technology, 32(2), pp. 9–12.
FITEthics
No. 020
Pimm, S.L., Alibhai, S., Bergl, R., Dehgan, A., Giri, C., Jewell, Z., Joppa, L., Kays, R. and Loarie, S. (2015) ‘Emerging technologies to conserve biodiversity’, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 30(11), pp. 685–696. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2015.08.008.
FITEthics
No. 019
Lokare, N., Ge, Q., Snyder, W., Jewell, Z., Alibhai, S. and Lobaton, E. (2014) ‘Manifold learning approach to curve identification with applications to footprint segmentation’, in 2014 IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence for Multimedia, Signal and Vision Processing (CIMSIVP). Orlando, FL, 9–12 December. Piscataway, NJ: IEEE, pp. 1–8. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/CIMSIVP.2014.7013288.
FIT
No. 018
Gu, J., Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C., Jiang, G. and Ma, J. (2014) ‘Sex determination of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) from footprints in snow’, Wildlife Society Bulletin, 38(3), pp. 495–502. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.432.
FITBig-CatsAsia
No. 017
Jewell, Z.C., Alibhai, S.K. and Evans, J.W. (2014) ‘Monitoring mountain lion using footprints: a robust new technique’, Wild Felid Monitor, 7(1), pp. 26–27.
FITBig-CatsAmericas
No. 016
Jewell, Z. (2013) ‘Effect of monitoring technique on quality of conservation science’, Conservation Biology, 27(3), pp. 501–508. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12066.
Ethics
No. 015
Law, P.R., Jewell, Z. and Alibhai, S. (2013) ‘Using shape and size to quantify variation in footprints for individual identification: case study with white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)’, Wildlife Society Bulletin, 37(2), pp. 433–438. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.250.
Rhino
No. 014
Jewell, Z. and Alibhai, S. (2013) ‘Identifying endangered species from footprints’, SPIE Newsroom. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1117/2.1201212.004636.
FIT
No. 013
Jewell, Z.C. and Alibhai, S.K. (2010) ‘Ethics and the immobilization of animals’, in Bekoff, M. (ed.) Encyclopedia of animal rights and animal welfare. 2nd edn. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Press, pp. 259–265.
Ethics
No. 012
Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C. and Law, P.R. (2008) ‘A footprint technique to identify white rhino Ceratotherium simum at individual and species levels’, Endangered Species Research, 4(1–2), pp. 205–218. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00067.
FITRhinoAfrica
No. 011
Petridou, M., Sgardelis, S., Youlatos, D., Mertzanis, Y., Alibhai, S. and Jewell, Z.C. (2008) ‘Greece: an attempt to identify individual brown bears from their footprints’, International Bear News, 17(3), pp. 14–15.
BearsEuropeFIT
No. 010
Alibhai, S.K. and Jewell, Z.C. (2002) ‘Response to Atkinson, du Toit, Radcliffe, Dooley and Kock’, Journal of Zoology, 258(3), pp. 279–280. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836902231398.
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 009
Alibhai, S.K. and Jewell, Z.C. (2001) ‘Hot under the collar: the failure of radio-collars on black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis’, Oryx, 35(4), pp. 284–288. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00196.x.
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 008
Alibhai, S.K. and Jewell, Z.C. (2001) ‘Reply to Raoul du Toit’, Oryx, 35(4), p. 291. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00198.x.
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 007
Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C. and Towindo, S.S. (2001) ‘Effects of immobilization on fertility in female black rhino (Diceros bicornis)’, Journal of Zoology, 253(3), pp. 333–345. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836901000309.
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 006
Jewell, Z.C., Alibhai, S.K. and Law, P.R. (2001) ‘Censusing and monitoring black rhino (Diceros bicornis) using an objective spoor (footprint) identification technique’, Journal of Zoology, 254(1), pp. 1–16. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836901000516.
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 005
Matipano, G., Towindo, S., du Toit, F.R., Alibhai, S.K. and Jewell, Z.C. (1997) Notes on the management of rhinos in Zimbabwe. Report to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Zimbabwe, pp. 1–7.
RhinoAfrica
No. 004
Alibhai, S.K. and Jewell, Z.C. (1997) Pilot study to investigate a spoor recognition system for censusing and monitoring black rhino in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Rhinowatch report, Zimbabwe, pp. 1–34.
RhinoAfrica
No. 003
Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C. and Towindo, S.S. (1996) The density, distribution and ranging of the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) in the Sinamatella Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Report to the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, Zimbabwe.
RhinoAfrica
No. 002
Alibhai, S.K., Jewell, Z.C. and Towindo, S.S. (1995) Rhinowatch survey report: a systematic ground survey of black rhino, Sinamatella Intensive Protection Zone, July–October 1994. Report to the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, Zimbabwe, pp. 1–38.
RhinoAfrica
No. 001
Alibhai, S.K. and Jewell, Z.C. (1992) Rhinowatch survey report: Chirisa Safari Area and Sengwa Wildlife Research Area 1992 – a systematic ground survey of black rhino. Report to the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, Zimbabwe, pp. 1–51.
RhinoAfrica