Survey complete: now the analysis begins
We've just completed our latest photographic aerial survey across three areas of protected arid savanna in south-eastern Zimbabwe. Together, they cover about 150,000 ha, and include the areas where most wildlife gather during the dry season.
Why this survey matters
The client needed reliable numbers for kudu and waterbuck to guide management decisions. Both species are hard to count from the air. They are well camouflaged, often stand under trees, and usually move in small, scattered groups. Observers in a moving aircraft miss many of them, and no one knows exactly how many.
Instead of sampling a few strips and extrapolating, we flew survey lines designed to photograph each area in full. Every animal we count will be tied to an image that can be checked.
Giraffe and antelope among scattered trees An elephant herd, photographed during the survey
Left: giraffe among scattered trees. Right: an elephant herd feeding on a dead baobab, photographed during the survey.
What happens next
Annotation. Our trained team reviews every image by hand on our newly launched annotation platform, labelling each animal, carcass and baobab tree.
Checking. Animals that appear in overlapping photos are matched, so nothing is counted twice. Ecologists then verify the results.
Analysis. We produce a verified minimum count, then use statistical models that account for animals the cameras couldn't see, to give robust population estimates for every species.
Reporting. The client receives the results, distribution maps and a full report, and the imagery stays securely stored for future analysis.
The survey was also designed to test how accurately photographic methods estimate wildlife populations. We'll share what we can once the analysis is done.
Planning a survey of your own? Get in touch, and we'll design a survey that fits your aims and objectives and supports your ecological monitoring or donor reporting.
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