AI traps in the Kaimai Mamaku.
Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust has secured funding from Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Joint Agency Partnership (DOC, WRC and BOPRC) to purchase AI traps for a year-long trial in the Kaimai Mamaku project area. Together, we will test the capability and usefulness of AI traps for conservation groups in the Kaimai Mamaku terrain, and share that knowledge for the benefit of the wider conservation community.
There are several AI-enabled traps on the market with advantages and disadvantages. One of the traps well suited to the Kaimai Mamaku is the Critter Solutions species specific kill trap. MKMT has secured an opportunity to purchase the Critter Solutions traps from an early production run to enable you to test its capabilities in real world conditions.
Each trap is a standalone unit with its own communications system and does not require an AI trap network to operate effectively. The communications provider is SpaceX which means each unit can talk to a satellite, enabling the AI learning and refinement, species identification and trap arming, and trap maintenance and function to be managed effectively in remote environments.
Register your interest
Before submitting, please read the following criteria.
Registering your interest does not confirm that you will receive an AI trap.
Selected trap recipients will meet the following criteria as a minimum:
Documented health & safety management plan, with processes for identifying and managing risks and hazards regarding trap deployment and maintenance, including incident reporting.
Can meet the costs of communications associated with the traps and agree to return the trap/s if they can no longer meet those costs.
Have an existing pest animal control trap and/or bait station network that is subject to regular maintenance per best practice standards.
Are willing and available to participate in the initial training session and follow up wananga.
Agree to operate the trap/s in accordance with the developer’s guidelines and to follow the developer’s instructions as required.
Approve of the trap data being accessed by all the parties required to allow the AI to continuously learn, receive updates, and undertake upgrades.
Approve of the trap data being supplied to MKMT to prepare a summary document for public circulation. Raw data will remain the property of the group/team.
Must be within the Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust project area (found here).
By receiving a trap you agree to:
Attend a training session.
Deploy and maintain the traps for at least 12 months.
Provide access to the resulting data which will enable an analysis to be undertaken by MKMT and Critter Solutions. The purpose of this analysis will be to provide the local community with advice and recommendations about purchasing and operating these new traps for their conservation projects.
FAQ
Where is the funding coming from?
MKMT has secured funding from Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Joint Agency Partnership (DOC, WRC and BOPRC) to purchase AI traps for a year-long trial in the Kaimai Mamaku project area.
We are yet to confirm budget split in regards to how many traps need to be deployed to each rohe.
Why an AI trap trial?
The Kaimai Mamaku terrain is tough, volunteer and paid staff time is limited and project funding is restricted.
MKMT are constantly looking for ways to improve pest animal control networks. To this end, we have been investigating the option of introducing traps enabled with artificial intelligence (AI) that recognise, arm and humanely kill pest species, while recognising and remaining disarmed for non-target species to avoid by-kill of native species and harm to people.
AI traps should save people time, effort and improve health and safety.
The purpose of the trial is to test the capability and usefulness of AI traps for conservation groups in the Kaimai Mamaku terrain and to share that knowledge for the benefit of the conservation community.
Why Critter Solutions?
There are several AI-enabled traps on the market with advantages and disadvantages. MKMT has investigated these and found that the trap best suited to the Kaimai Mamaku groups and terrain is the Critter Solutions species specific kill trap.
Unlike other AI traps, each trap is a standalone unit with its own communications system and does not require a trap network to operate effectively. The communications provider is SpaceX which means each unit can talk to a satellite, enabling the AI learning and refinement, species identification and trap arming, and trap maintenance and function to be managed effectively in remote environments.
When are the traps expected to arrive?
Expressions of interest will close 31 Jan 2026
Training session with all successful groups in February (date TBC)
