I enter my details, click a button ... and find myself face to face with a herd of wildebeest. 13 happily grazing individuals seem completely unaware of my presence. Recording this, and after pressing the 'finish' button, I then find myself looking at a close-up view of the underside of an elephant. Definitely not the most flattering of angles. I classify it as '1 elephant, standing' and move on. Again, the elephant is unaware of the fact that I'm watching it. So what's enabling me to have such insights into animals' lives?
A team of scientists have set up a series of camera traps around the Serengeti (hence the name 'Snapshot Serengeti'). These cameras take images ('captures'), which the public can then classify using Snapshot Serengeti's website. Some of the scientists running this project are Phd students, and the data provided by these classifications are used in presentations and dissertations. Supported by funding and donations from the public, this project is nearing the end of its 7th season. Obviously, going on safari from the comfort of your own house is very popular.