A penguin with Crittercam mounted on its back
Photograph by Birgit Buhleier

One day about 20 years ago, a young biologist and filmmaker named Greg Marshall saw something while snorkeling along the coral reefs of Belize that fired his imagination. A small suckerfish known as a remora had attached itself to a much larger shark, and was “riding” along with the shark as it made its way around the reef. Marshall conceived the idea of attaching a small video camera to sharks and other sea creatures—and thus was born Crittercam, an invention that has offered breathtaking glimpses into the animal world. Two decades later, Crittercam imagery has been shown in a number of National Geographic Television films, while the concept of allowing animals to record data about themselves has been adopted by other scientists, whose pioneering work has made “animal-borne imaging” a cutting-edge tool for studying wildlife.

This fall, Marshall and National Geographic will host a three-day Animal-Borne Imaging Symposium (ABIS), which will bring together scientists from around the world to share ideas and discoveries from this new technology. As part of ABIS, National Geographic Live! will present film screenings, an exhibition, and other public events highlighting Crittercam and what it has taught us about the animal world.

Thursday, October 11
7 pm—Surviving Paradise: The Hawaiian Monk Seal (Film Screening)
Scientists use Crittercam to investigate the mysterious population decline of the world’s oldest seal species. Followed by a discussion with NOAA scientists Frank Parrish, Charles Littnan, and Bud Antonelis, and Crittercam team member Kyler Abernathy.

Friday, October 12
Public Presentations by Scientists Using Animal-Borne Imaging
1:15 pm—John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research, "Blue Whales: A Crittercam Perspective"
2 pm—Mike Heithaus, Florida International University, “Crittercam Down Under”
2:30 pm—Terrie Williams, UC Santa Cruz, “Holes in the Planet Landscape: The Global Water Change Challenge to Large Animals”
3:15 pm—Fred Sharpe, Alaska Whale Foundation, “Humpback Whales: Bubble-Net Feeding Strategy”
3:45 pm—Frank Parrish and Charles Littnan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “Changing Perspectives in Hawaiian Monk Seal Research”
4:30 pm—Richard Reina, Monash University, ”Hold Your Breath!: Sex and Violence in the Leatherback Turtle World“
7 pm—Bear Island (Film Screening)
Breaking new ground with deployment on land animals, Crittercam offers an unprecedented close up look at the coastal brown grizzly bears of Alaska’s Chichagof Island. Film will be followed by a discussion with Greg Marshall and Lavern Beier of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game.

See more information about family-oriented events Saturday, October 13, at our Crittercam Day page.

Visit the National Geographic Museum exhibition “Crittercam,” Aug 31, 2007-Jan 2, 2008, 17th & M Streets.