An empirical evaluation of camera trapping and spatially explicit capture‐recapture models for estimating chimpanzee density

Camera trapping combined with spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models accurately estimates chimpanzee population size and density, even when only a small number of traps are deployed. This study validated the method by sampling a habituated western chimpanzee community in Taï National Park, Ivory Coast, where the true population size was known. Results showed that SECR abundance estimates were precise and that targeting frequently visited locations improved detection probabilities without compromising accuracy. The findings demonstrate that camera trapping can effectively monitor chimpanzee populations with reduced sampling effort, offering a cost-effective tool for conservation research.

Després‐Einspenner, M.-L., Howe, E. J., Drapeau, P., & Kühl, H. S. (2017). An empirical evaluation of camera trapping and spatially explicit capture‐recapture models for estimating chimpanzee density. American Journal of Primatology, 79(7). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22647