The smart animal trap market is expected to grow from US$ 334.36 million in 2022 to US$ 507.56 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2022 to 2028.
The practice of local hunters setting traps and checking them daily for the capture of dangerous animals becomes increasingly challenging as they age. To alleviate this physical strain, there is a growing interest in using the Internet of Things (IoT) to minimize human involvement in animal trapping. A number of IT companies and startups specializing in the IoT are working on creating remote monitoring systems for wildlife surveillance and wildlife trapping to address this issue. These systems utilize sensors to detect the capture of hazardous animals and then alert remote administrators through GPS and Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) communication.
The use of IoT technology in wildlife trapping has enabled remote monitoring and reduced the physical demands of daily checks by hunters. A map can be generated to show the status of traps in a specific region, and notifications can be sent to registered email addresses. This technique is more efficient as it allows hunters to go directly to the location of the captured animals. Cloud data collected from wildlife trap monitoring devices can also be analyzed to track the capture time and location. However, poor connectivity and limited access to power sources can result in blind spots, which can be addressed by testing wireless relays and renewable energy-powered systems such as solar power-based traps. Thus, the expansion of IoT technology and the development of power sources are expected to introduce new trends in the smart animal trap market during the forecast period.
COVID-19 Impact on Smart Animal Trap Market Size
In the MEA region, which includes South Africa, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for all sectors during 2020 and the first half of 2021. With the outbreak leading most people to stay indoors, the adoption of work-from-home practices was boosted. The smart animal trap market experienced a decline at the start of the pandemic, due to disrupted supply chains and declining growth in industries such as semiconductor components, consumer electronics, and IT & telecommunication. Additionally, some developing economies in the region have been unable to afford smart animal trap systems due to significant losses incurred by governments and businesses.
In June 2021, a visitor was killed by a wild hippo in Kenya's Mairo-inya village. The relevant government could not fund the deployment of a smart animal trap system due to supply chain constraints that increased the overhead costs of deployment. Such incidents and factors have led to increased demand for smart animal trap systems in the region. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic's overall impact on the MEA smart animal trap market was moderate.
The Asia Pacific region has been divided into different segments, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Rest of Asia Pacific, for the smart animal trap market study. With 11% of all animal species being found in China, wildlife conservation is critical to maintaining biodiversity globally. China's conservation initiatives have had some success, but human activities pose a threat to 21.4% of vertebrate species, which has led to an increasing demand for monitoring devices in the country. The expansion of the wildlife trade in China has also put both wildlife and humans at risk of contracting infectious zoonotic diseases, highlighting the need for proper surveillance of animals and thereby boosting the market.
Meanwhile, in India, the wildlife community has broad support, with 981 protected areas, including 106 National Parks, 566 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 97 Conservation Reserves, and 214 Community Reserves, as of 2020-2021. Additionally, there are 18 Biosphere Reserves, 32 Elephant Reserves, and 51 Tiger Reserves. These national parks are equipped with IoT-connected devices to track the frequent migration of animals across the parks and maintain a proper ecosystem for endangered species. Moreover, the substantial number of livestock in India offers a sizable customer base for the smart animal trap market.
The Australian government's attention toward the wildlife environment is significantly boosting the smart animal traps market across the country. As Wildlife protection is handled by several privately run organizations in the nation, the consumption of smart devices across the country is high. For instance, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the country's largest private landowner, manages more than 12.9 million hectares of land and species. The country holds strong biodiversity and is home to several rare species at the edge of the extension. Therefore, during the projection period, the smart animal trap market will advance greatly due to the high level of awareness and the vibrant wildlife community.
The smart animal trap market study features profiles of several companies, including Alert House ApS, CatchAlive ApS, Encounter Solutions Ltd., Econode Ltd., Wildlife Dominion Management LLC. (HogEye), PestSense Pty Ltd Animal Trap Solutions, Skyhawk, TrapSmart tm LLP., uWatch Ltd., Fallenmelder TRAPMASTER, TFK Handels GmbH, WildMelder, Triotos, and BOARMASTER. These market players are implementing both organic and inorganic growth strategies to maintain their competitive edge. For instance, Skyhawk participated in the Texas Pest Control Expo in June 2022, which is expected to contribute to the market's growth during the forecast period.
To obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the smart animal trap market, the study conducted exhaustive secondary research using both internal and external sources. The research process included obtaining an overview and forecast of the market size with respect to all market segments. Additionally, industry participants and commentators conducted primary interviews to validate the data and gain more analytical insights. These participants included VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, national sales managers, and external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders who specialize in the smart animal trap market.