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Research Publications

Peer-reviewed papers, reports, and patents documenting WildTrack's non-invasive Footprint Identification Technology (FIT), and the conservation work it supports.

Non‑invasive monitoring

Advance tools for hard‑to‑study species that never require capture or handling.

AI & data science

Apply machine learning and rigorous data science to real field conservation challenges.

Real‑world impact

Support decision‑making for wildlife protection and biodiversity research on the ground.

41 records1993–2026
No. 041
A non-invasive footprint technique for accurate identification of cryptic small mammal species: A Sengi Case Study.
Alibhai, S., Avenant, N., Oosthuizen, M., Carlson, L., MacFadyen, D. and Jewell, Z.·2026
EcologyEvolution
No. 040
Improving wildlife track classification through human-in-the-loop method and explainable AI.
Scientific Reports·2026
AIAfricaRhino track classification
No. 039
XTrail-ID: An Explainable AI Human Footprint Trail Identification on Soil Substrate Using Unsupervised Machine Learning from UAV Imagery
Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction·2026
AIAfricaHuman Tracks
No. 038
An investigation of lightweight AI models to classify African ungulate species from tracks
Ecological Informatics·2025
AIAfricaRhino
No. 037
Investigating Bounding Box, Landmark, and Segmentation Approaches for Automatic Human Barefoot Print Classification on Soil Substrates Using Deep Learning
Forensic Sciences·2025
AIAfricaHuman barefoot
No. 036
Enhancing endangered species monitoring by lowering data entry requirements with imputation techniques as a preprocessing step for the footprint identification technology (FIT)
Ecological Informatics·2024
FIT
No. 035
The crossroads of tradition and modern technology: integrative approaches to studying carnivores in low density ecosystems
Frontiers in Conservation Science·2024
FITAfricaBig-Cats
No. 034
Development of a non-invasive method for species and sex identification of rare forest carnivores using footprint identification technology
Ecological Informatics·2023
FITAmericas
No. 033
The importance of large pans and surrounding bushveld for black rhino (Diceros bicornis ssp. bicornis) habitat use in the Kalahari: implications for reintroduction and range expansion
Namibian Journal of Environment·2023
RhinoAfrica
No. 032
I know the tiger by his paw: A non-invasive footprint identification technique for monitoring individual Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in snow
Ecological Informatics·2022
Big-CatsAsiaFIT
No. 031
It’s otterly confusing – distinguishing between footprints of three of the four sympatric Asian otter species using morphometrics and machine learning
Otter - Journal of the International Otter Survival Fund·2022
OtterAsiaFIT
No. 030
Protecting endangered megafauna through AI analysis of drone images in a low-connectivity setting: a case study from Namibia
PeerJ·2021
DronesAIRhinoAfrica
No. 029
Monitoring rhinoceroses in Namibia’s private custodianship properties
PeerJ·2020
RhinoAfricaFIT
No. 028
Disassociation between black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) mothers and their calves.
African Journal of Ecology·2019
RhinoAfrica
No. 027
Classification system for similar objects from digital images
U.S. Patent No. 9,911,066·2018
FIT
No. 026
Determining the numbers of a landscape architect species (Tapirus terrestris), using footprints.
PeerJ·2018
TapirAmericasFIT
No. 025
Using Footprints to Identify and Sex Giant Pandas
Biological Conservation·2018
FITGiant-PandaAsia
No. 024
The challenge of monitoring elusive large carnivores: An accurate and cost-effective tool to identify and sex pumas (Puma concolor) from footprints.
PLoS ONE·2017
FITBig-CatsAmericas
No. 023
Spotting Cheetahs: Identifying Individuals by their Footprints
Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE)·2016
FITAfricaBig-Cats
No. 022
Comment on ‘Technologies for Conserving Biodiversity in the Anthropocene’, by John O’Brien. Forum response for Issues in Science and Technology
Issues in Science and Technology·2015
FITEthics
No. 021
Emerging Technologies to Conserve Biodiversity
Trends in Ecology and Evolution·2014
FITEthics
No. 020
Manifold learning approach to curve identification with applications to footprint segmentation
Signal and Vision Processing (CIMSIVP), IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence for Multimedia·2014
FIT
No. 019
Monitoring mountain lion using footprints: A robust new technique.
Wild Felid Monitor·2014
FITBig-CatsAmericas
No. 018
Sex determination of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) from footprints in snow
Wildlife Society Bulletin·2014
FITBig-CatsAsia
No. 017
Effect of Monitoring Technique on Quality of Conservation Science
Conservation Biology·2013
Ethics
No. 016
Identifying Endangered Species from Footprints.
The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)·2013
FIT
No. 015
Using Shape and Size to Quantify Variation in Footprints for Individual Identification: Case Study with White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum).
Wildlife Society Bulletin·2013
Rhino
No. 014
Ethics and the Immobilization of animals.
Encyclopedia of Animal rights and Animal welfare (2nd Ed.)·2010
Ethics
No. 013
Greece: An attempt to identify individual brown bears from their footprints.
International Bear News·2008
BearsEuropeFIT
No. 012
Identifying white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) by a footprint identification technique, at the individual and species levels.
Endangered Species Research·2008
FITRhinoAfrica
No. 011
The development of a footprint identification technique (FIT) for censusing and monitoring Polar bear (Ursus maritimus).
Unpubl. preliminary report·2008
FITAmericasBears
No. 010
The cost of information: should black rhinos be immobilized?
Journal of Zoology, London·2002
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 009
Censusing and monitoring black rhino (Diceros bicornis) using an objective spoor (footprint) identification technique
Journal of Zoology, London·2001
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 008
Effects of immobilization on fertility in female black rhino (Diceros bicornis)
Journal of Zoology, London·2001
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 007
Forum - Reply to Raoul du Toit
Oryx, Vol 35·2001
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 006
Hot under the collar: The failure of radio-collars on black rhino (Diceros bicornis).
Oryx, Vol 35·2001
EthicsRhinoAfrica
No. 005
Notes on the management of rhinos in Zimbabwe
Report to Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe.·1997
RhinoAfrica
No. 004
The Density, Distribution and Ranging of the Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis) in the Sinamatella Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
Report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe.·1996
RhinoAfrica
No. 003
Rhinowatch Survey Report: Sinamatella Intensive Protection Zone – A Systematic Ground Survey of the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) in 1994.
Report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe.·1995
RhinoAfrica
No. 002
Rhinowatch Survey Report: Chirisa Safari Area and Sengwa Wildlife Research Area – A Systematic Ground Survey of Large Mammals in 1992.
Report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe.·1994
RhinoAfrica
No. 001
Rhinowatch Survey Report: Chirisa Safari Area and Sengwa Wildlife Research Area – A Systematic Ground Survey of black rhino in 1992.
Report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe.·1993
RhinoAfrica