AN EVALUATION OF THE UTILITY OF CAMERA TRAPS IN MONITORING GIANT OTTER POPULATIONS

Monitoring populations of giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis, poses unique challenges. Important information such as sex, reproductive status, home range size and pack composition are often difficult to obtain during a short field season with limited observers. We conducted a pilot study on the use of camera traps to assist in monitoring a population of giant otters in the Bolivian Amazon. We found that while fewer individuals were resolved using camera traps than by direct observation, they were useful in complementing the observation approach to resolve pack membership and greatly facilitated the identification of the breeding pair. Camera traps were useful in resolving latrine activity patterns, the results of which are presented here.