Mystery animal captured on thermal camera - what is it?

Now here's something interesting.

This game camera footage was shot by Wayne Knight in rural Victoria.

The mystery creature with felid-like movements was captured on a thermal camera. We guesstimate the distance at about 400 metres.

If you think you know what this animal is, please contact us at cfzaustralia@yahoo.com.au

Game camera project snaps amazing wildlife photos

A Costa Rican ocelot takes a peek at a camera.

It has to be one of the most interesting wildlife projects to date - a global camera trap mammal study, documenting 105 species in nearly 52,000 images, from seven protected areas across the Americas, Africa and Asia. 

The photographs reveal an amazing variety of animals in their most candid moments — from a minute mouse to the enormous African elephant, plus gorillas, cougars, giant anteaters and even tourists and poachers!

A southern pig-tailed macaque in Indonesia. 

Analysis of the photographic data has helped scientists confirm a key conclusion that until now, was understood through uncoordinated local study: habitat loss and smaller reserves have a direct and detrimental impact on the diversity and survival of mammal populations.

Impacts are seen in the form of less diversity of species and less variety of body sizes and diets (smaller animals and insectivores are the first to disappear), among others. This information replicated over time and space is crucial to understand the effects of global and regional threats on forest mammals and anticipate extinctions before it is too late.

A Costa Rican puma.

White-lipped pecari in Suriname.

A chimpanzee in Uganda.

All data from the study is publicly available at: www.teamnetwork.org/en/data/query

Update: Sumatra camera drive

Have you always wanted to somehow be involved in one of the Centre for Fortean Zoology's expeditions?

Well, now is your chance - from the comfort of your home you can support this year's 2011 Sumatra expedition by sponsoring a trail camera (also known as a 'game camera').

CFZ member Glen Vaudrey is leading the charge over at CFZ HQ in the sponsorship department with our new mascot 'Trevor the Trail Cam' (pictured above).

"It has long been established that photographic evidence is one of the many ways that proof of the existence of a cryptid can be confirmed. Whilst the CFZ has had an impressive record at recovering hair samples there has, until now, been a lack of photographic evidence of any of the cryptids. It soon became apparent that the quest to discover mystery animals would be aided with trail cams." Glen writes.

For approximately A$158 (aka £100) you can help the CFZ place a trail camera in the field.

For further information, if you're in the UK, contact Glen at glen@cfz.org.uk or tel 0161 777 6586.

Otherwise direct donations can be made via PayPal to Trailcams@CFZ.org.uk

Anyone wishing to donate physical trail cams only (at the Australian end) can email Rebecca or Mike at cfzaustralia@yahoo.com.au

We will identify and thank sponsors on this blog.

This could be our best chance yet to capture something truly extraordinary in the field!

Catching Asian mystery pigs with cameras

Paleozoologist, author and prolific blogger Dr Darren Naish has penned an interesting post on his Tetrapod Zoology blog about the Mystery pigs of Asia, and the use of 'camera traps' aka game cameras.

"The increasing availability of automatic cameras (cameras set up to take photos on their own are known in the trade as camera traps) has been a great boon to field biologists, and to people interested generally in the documentation of obscure and elusive creatures."

Read more here.