Our aim is to develop a database (FIT base) of footprints from endangered species, to enable a wide range of endangered and elusive species to be monitored using the Footprint Identification Technique (FIT).
FIT was originally developed for black rhinoceros, but species algorithms have since been developed for white rhino, Baird’s and lowland Tapir, Bengal tiger and Polar bear.
We have received a large number of enquiries from field researchers who would like to use FIT as a non-invasive monitoring technique for the species they study. Currently 26 projects are awaiting algorithms for the species they study. These have ranged from the Giant Sable antelope in Angola, to crocodiles in the Congo, to Maned wolf in Brazil, to Giant Panda in China. In each case, FIT could make a valuable contribution to understanding more about these species, protecting and monitoring them.
FITbase, once established, will provide a reference base of raw material (footprints) for the development of species-specific footprint algorithms immediately available for use by the footprint identification technique (FIT) for monitoring endangered and elusive species. The database would be developed as an open-access source, primarily for use by wildlife professionals and researchers, conservation and/or environmental protection organisations.
Building species algorithms without access to a database of footprints from those species has slowed the implementation of the technique. Zoos and captive breeding institutes are inundated with requests from institutes of higher education for access to data, and have little or no time or funding to deploy staff to collect images, despite best intentions. Whilst American and European Zoological Associations, and TAG Chairs have been very cooperative towards requests for images to be collected, the situation has been the same.
FIT base; proposed implementation
A priority list of species will be compiled, based on IUCN Red-List status, habitat suitability for footprints in the wild, and WildTrack research affiliations. ISIS online will be used to seek suitable holding institutions for known individuals of each of these species.
The relevant TAG Chairs for each species or group will be contacted with requests for a letter of support to be given to holding zoos.
There could be three separate or complimentary approaches to collecting the images of known individuals from their host institutions (zoos, captive breeding facilities or the wild):
1. A dedicated photographer, trained in the WildTrack protocol, would travel to visit the host institutions and collect the necessary images. The photographer would be responsible for liaising with the host institution over access, and preparing the ground (so to speak) for the footprint collection.
2. Volunteers at each institution would be contacted through social networks, and taught the protocol using online media. This would likely require some time and effort, and at least a few trial runs before volunteers would be able to do the work confidently and effectively.
3. A dedicated photographer would liaise with and visit host institutions, and at the same time source a local volunteer whom he would teach on arrival, so that the collection of footprints could be continued after the first batch had been collected.
Option 3 is preferred. The dedicated photographer will aim to collect twenty good footprints (of one chosen foot) from each of 20 individuals of each species selected. We estimate that the photographer will be able to collect prints from between 10 and 20 species per annum, and the volunteers which he trains at the host institution to then collect a further 10-20 per annum. This effect will grow effectively as more people are trained and then train others.
Carolina Tiger Rescue, (www.carolinatigerrescue.org) will represent the hub of the footprint collection organisation, and protocol developed there, now documented on an educational video, can also be used to instruct willing participants.
Once images have been collected by the photographer and his trainees, they will be sent electronically to WildTrack, which will be responsible for the development of species algorithms.
When algorithms have been developed, partner field projects for that species will be contacted to test and implement FIT in situ.