Camera traps used on the mastofaunal survey of Araras Biological Reserve, IEF-RJ

Abstract

Mammal studies in their natural habitats are generally complicated due to many factors such as difficulties in visually locating and capturing animals. Camera traps have been used in some cases, especially to study forest animals, with many purposes. The present paper reports the utilization of camera traps to survey mammal species at the Araras Biological
Reserve (RBA-IEF), in Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil, from September of 2002 to January of 2003. Industrial and manufactured equipments utilizing food bait to attract the animals were used. Photographs obtained were analyzed to identify the species as well as other studies: mark and recapture model, equipments efficiency, activity period and other behaviors. Ten species of mammals were photographed, besides some other species that
were observed, but not photographed. The camera traps proved to be efficient: to survey some mammal species; to study activity period and other behaviors; to evaluate the conservation status of the area.