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Webcams could hold the key to animal conservation ; London Zoo has enlisted the help of Google for a hi-tech trial, giving us a round-the-clock view... [Western Mail (Wales)](Western Mail (Wales) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Webcams could hold the key to animal conservation ; London Zoo has enlisted the help of Google for a hi-tech trial, giving us a round-the-clock view of some otter-ly adorable animals. Katie Wright goes on a digital safari ATRIO of otters is lying in a row on a bed of straw, wriggling and snuggling so adorably you'd think it had been staged. But no, this is a live feed from the infra-red lit enclosure at London Zoo, broadcast for all to see on YouTube (youtube.com/ zslvideo) as part of a project testing a new technology, which could in future be used as a vital tool to protect endangered species in the wild. How? Here's where it gets a bit technical. Zoological Society of London has teamed up with Google to use the gaps between digital TV frequencies, called television whitespaces or TVWS, to wirelessly transmit live video on the web, with Google's Spectrum Database making sure there's no interference with existing channels. It's hoped that one day TVWS can be used to transmit footage from remote areas, even through dense forests or foliage, so conservationists can monitor species and habitats from afar. "Melting sea ice, population numbers, migratory patterns, sophisticated poaching techniques... we could gain an insight like never before, collating data that can help us learn and develop new strategies for vital conservation," says Alasdair Davies from the ZSL Conservation Technology Unit. As well as otters, the spotlight has been turned on the zoo's mob (that's the official term) of meerkats and the somewhat camera-shy family of five Galapagos tortoises. The aim is to integrate the TVWS into the 'Instant Wild' system, which lets members of the public help to identify creatures captured on camera in the wild. But is that looking likely? "The trial has been a great success," Davies tells me. "The cameras and live feed have performed well, even in the high winds and stormy weather recently. We're really excited to use the technology in our field work now that is has been proven in Central London." It's proven popular with the public too. "We have had a few thousand people watch the feeds so far and have a small, yet dedicated group of regular viewers that are enjoying watching the otters curl up for the night or keeping watch to see if they can spot the tortoises out and about," adds Davies. The trial will run until the end of December, so there are just two months left to catch the strangely addictive sight of snoozing otters spooning each other. My advice: tune in immediately. Remember, you're not procrastinating, you're helping endangered animals. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |