Developing a PDA/GPS and PC user interface for non-literate African animal trackers

Background/Question/Methods The art of tracking may well be the origin of science. This hypothesis implies that scientific reasoning may be an innate ability of the human mind. The implication is that traditional non-literate African trackers should be able to make a contribution to our scientific understanding of ecosystems. Furthermore, it implies that members of the general public should, through their participation in citizen science, be able to become active participants in the scientific process. Developing a user interface for PDA/GPS has enabled non-literate trackers in southern Africa to demonstrate their ability to gather highly refined data on animal distribution and behavior.

Results/Conclusions Expert trackers are able to gather data based on tracks and signs that may be impossible to obtain in any other way. In addition, the expertise of African trackers can also be transferred to trackers in the developed world, such as the USA. Involving non-literate African trackers in scientific monitoring can therefore have far-reaching implications for our understanding of ecosystems.