Wildlife photo-identification

Short description: Animal tracking method

Researchers use variation on humpback whale flukes to identify and track the animals

Photo-identification is a technique used to identify and track individuals of a wild animal study population over time. It relies on capturing photographs of distinctive characteristics such as skin or pelage patterns or scars from the animal. In cetaceans, the dorsal fin area and tail flukes are commonly used.

Photo-identification is generally used as an alternative to other, invasive methods of tagging that require attaching a device to each individual. The technique enables precise counting, rather than rough estimation, of the number of animals in a population. It also allows researchers to perform longitudinal studies of individuals over many years, yielding data about the lifecycle, lifespan, migration patterns, and social relationships of the animals.

Species that are studied using photo-identification techniques include:

• Killer whales
• Humpback whales
• Whale sharks
• Manta rays - see Manta Matcher
• Octopuses (Wunderpus photogenicus)
• Salamanders
• Giraffes

See also

• Michael Bigg, who pioneered the photo-identification of killer whales

References

• Obee, Bruce; Graeme Ellis (1992). Elaine Jones. ed. Guardians of the Whales: The Quest to Study Whales in the Wild. North Vancouver, British Columbia: Whitecap Books. ISBN 0-88240-428-8. 

External links

Killer whale photo-identification databases

• Killer whales of southern Alaska
• Russian Orcas
• Killer whales of the Crozet islands
• Icelandic Orca Project
• Marion Island Killer Whales 2006-2013
• Norwegian Orca ID Catalogue