Finished! Looks like this project is out of data at the moment!
Provisional results now available! Please see Talk board for more information.
FAQ
Why isn't there an "I don't know" or "unidentifiable" button?
We'd like you to take your best guess, even if you're not sure what the animal is! This is because even an imperfect guess provides us with useful information (e.g. whether the animal is small, medium, or large). Also, each image will be looked at by multiple volunteers, so any mistakes will generally be outweighed by a larger number of correct answers - and images with lots of disagreeing classifications will be checked by an expert.
What do I do if I can't identify an animal which is there?
Don't worry, just take your best guess! Each image will be looked at by multiple volunteers, and images with lots of disagreeing classifications will be checked by an expert.
If I make a mistake, can I go back?
No, but don't worry! Each image will be looked at by multiple volunteers, so any mistakes will generally be outweighed by a larger number of correct answers. Also, any images with lots of disagreeing classifications will be checked by an expert.
What do I do if I'm not sure how many animals are in the image?
Just take your best guess! As each image will be looked at by multiple volunteers, the count of animals will become more accurate as more people classify it. If the animal count varies a lot between volunteer classifications, then an expert will double-check the image.
What do I do if I'm not sure whether the animal is eating Opuntia fruit?
If there's even a chance that the animal is eating fruit, please answer "Yes" for this question. All of these images will be closely examined by an expert later on.
Why do some of the images not have any animals?
Camera traps use passive infrared (PIR) sensors, which can be triggered by other moving objects (e.g. grass waving in the wind). We have used the Megadetector machine learning model to screen out most of these empty images automatically. However, the model sometimes makes mistakes - like identifying a rock or oddly-shaped plant as an animal!
How can I discuss a photo with others?
After you make your classifications and click Done, a button will appear which gives you the option to go to the Talk page. Pressing this button will allow you to add a note about the image, mark it with a hashtag, or start a new thread on one of the discussion boards.
What if I see something in a photo that I want to tell the scientists about?
If you see anything especially interesting or unusual that you'd like to show us, please make a post on the discussion board. You can access this by following the link to the Talk page, either after pressing the Done button or by clicking the Talk button at the top of the page.
How will the data from this project be used?
The data collected during this project will be used to improve our understanding of Opuntia's impacts. In the future, the data may also be used to address other important conservation questions.
How can I see the results from this project?
When the results from this project are published, a Results tab will be added to the About page with a link to the publication.
Which model of camera trap did you use?
We used three different models - the Browning Dark Ops HD Pro X, the Browning Recon Force Extreme, and the Reconyx Hyperfire 2. We used steel security cases to protect the cameras from elephants and hyenas. We got our camera traps from Naturespy, who helped us to pick out the model which best fitted our requirements.
I have a question that's not in this FAQ, who can I ask?
Please post any other questions on the Talk board - you can find it by pressing the button at the top of this page. You can post general questions on the "Questions for the Research Team" board, and ask about any technical problems on the "Technical Support" board.