Developing techniques for the observation of nocturnal wildlife on a resort island as a collaboration between academia and microenterprises

Abstract

This paper describes the development of methods for the observation of nocturnal wildlife as a collaborative effort between academia and microenterprises. A number of private firms have for many years been operating tours for wildlife watching on Green Island, and local guides have also worked with wildlife researchers. In accordance with government regulations, researchers and operators were tasked with developing new protocols for observing nocturnal wildlife to promote sustainability. We developed a system to capture images of biofluorescence using a blue-violet light source in which an optical filter is placed over a flashlight. The proposed scheme was shown to capture stunning images without causing harm to any of the species. The concepts of Action Research were employed to the whole innovation process. The relationships established between researchers and operators formed the basis of successful early collaborations. The interaction among local operators, academia, and government was conceptually modeled in six steps: initiation, analysis, design, construction, development, and implementation.