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And Rachel Ann was excited to see photos of a black bear that
her camera trap captured.
Camera traps used at nature reserves in China have helped
wildlife scientists learn more about the behavior of giant pandas,
which are generally very shy animals. Because of this, little is
known about their behavior. From 2010 to 2014 the WWF and
the Chinese government collectively managed a wildlife monitor-
ing project. Scientists set up camera traps in twenty-nine Chinese
nature reserves that were home to the pandas. The camera traps
captured remarkable images and video footage of the giant pan-
das. “These photos offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of
giant pandas, as well as other animals, which are difficult to see
in the wild,” says Sybille Klenzendorf, who directs the WWF’s spe-
cies program. “They demonstrate that by saving the iconic giant
panda, we secure a vibrant future for other incredible wildlife, wild
places and people.”
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So Many Possibilities
Wildlife habitats are a continued source of interest for scientists.
If habitats are not preserved and protected, it could mean the
end of the wildlife species that depend on those habitats for food
and water, protection, and space to raise their young. No mat-
ter where these habitats are, from the rangelands of California to
remote jungles in Indonesia, scientists are exploring them using
an amazing array of high-tech innovations: drones, artificial intel-
ligence, computer modeling software, and camera traps, just to
name a few. Scientists are also able to expand the breadth and
depth of their research by working with volunteer citizens who
are interested in doing wildlife research. Undoubtedly, even more
sophisticated ways of studying wildlife habitats will be developed
in the coming years. That will be vital because earth’s wild crea-
tures, whose habitats have been lost because of human actions,
now need humans to undo the damage.
