Over the past two decades, technological advancements have significantly increased image-based methodologies, particularly the use of camera traps, which have become invaluable tools in ecology for examining a wide range of phenomena, including animal activity patterns, habitat selection, abundance, densities and distributions. In this paper, we examine how and why camera traps transform research practices and methodologies, investigate how animals perceive and adapt to these modern technologies, explore the ethical implications of using such devices in animal research and finally, shed light on the complex interplay between technology, animal behaviour and research ethics in the rapidly evolving fields of human–animal interactions and wildlife studies.
