Community Camera Trapping: A Novel Method for Encouraging Human-Big Cat Coexistence on Human-Dominated Land

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) poses a significant threat to both human livelihoods and conservation, particularly for large, potentially dangerous species such as big cats. Here, we provide an overview of community camera trapping (CCT) and the expanded community camera-trapping plus (CCT+) programs, which are innovative, inclusive approaches that can help reduce conflict and improve coexistence. We illustrate how CCT, through a combination of participatory monitoring and tangible benefits directly linked to wildlife presence, helps create initial changes in attitude and tolerance towards big cats and other wildlife. CCT+ builds on this by introducing additional incentives and disincentives that promote conservation-friendly behavior change, leading to tangible improvements in coexistence. We explain the approaches, highlight key aspects for practitioners to consider, and discuss the potential to scale these approaches to strengthen human-wildlife coexistence across diverse contexts.

Keywords

behavior change / big cats / CCT / CCT+ / coexistence / conservation / human-wildlife conflict

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2025 The Author(s). Wildlife Letters published by Northeast Forestry University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.