Camera trap networks provide non-invasive welfare monitoring for wild populations; advances in AI-assisted image analysis enable welfare-relevant body condition and behaviour assessment at scale.
Camera trap technology has revolutionised wildlife monitoring by enabling population-level observation without the welfare costs of capture and handling. Advances in AI-assisted image analysis now enable body condition assessment, behaviour repertoire quantification, and injury detection from large camera trap datasets. This capability supports welfare-informed wildlife management decisions previously impossible without intrusive monitoring. The welfare benefit of non-invasive assessment scales with the number of animals in monitored populations.