Expedition Great Bear: Reality Bear TV

Collaborating with scientists, Ian and his colleagues have devised a way of watching carnivores and studying them without the usual burdens of time, logistics and interference with the subject.

Inspired by the boom in reality television — and using hardware and software lifted from the surveillance industry — these enterprising engineers are testing the efficacy of a remote video-surveillance system for carnivores.

The components are simple: a video camera, a motorized swivel system, waterproof housing, a power source, and a radio transmitter.

This combination should enable us to deploy a video camera in the forest for days or weeks at a time and watch a live feed of the action from miles away.

Through remote signals, we should be able to pan and zoom the video camera to follow animals in view. And the animals should be completely oblivious to be watched and studied.

It is the equivalent of the hit global reality television series "Big Brother" except for animals.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• bears
• animals
• camera