Applying a random encounter model to estimate lion density from camera traps in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

A novel approach using the random encounter model (REM) to estimate lion density from camera trap data, without requiring individual recognition, was applied for the first time in Serengeti National Park. The study found that restricting REM estimates to night-time events significantly reduced bias compared to all photographic events, suggesting that animal movement patterns relative to cameras can impact density estimates. This method offers a promising alternative for large carnivore studies but requires reliable measures of movement speed and camera detection zones for accurate results.

Cusack, J. J., Swanson, A., Coulson, T., Packer, C., Carbone, C., Dickman, A. J., Kosmala, M., Lintott, C., & Rowcliffe, J. M. (2015). Applying a random encounter model to estimate lion density from camera traps in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 79(6), 1014–1021. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.902