The market for smart animal traps is projected to increase from US$ 334.36 million in 2022 to US$ 507.56 million by 2028, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% during this period.
As local hunters age, the traditional method of setting traps and checking them daily for dangerous animals becomes more physically demanding. To ease this burden, there is a rising interest in leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) to reduce the need for human intervention in animal trapping. Various IT firms and startups focused on IoT are developing remote monitoring systems aimed at wildlife surveillance and trapping, which address these challenges. These innovative systems employ sensors to identify the capture of hazardous animals and subsequently notify remote operators via GPS and Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) communication.
Integrating IoT technology into wildlife trapping has facilitated remote monitoring, significantly lowering the physical effort required for daily checks by hunters. A digital map can be created to display the status of traps in a designated area, and alerts can be sent to registered email accounts. This method enhances efficiency by allowing hunters to head directly to the sites where animals have been captured. Furthermore, data collected from wildlife trap monitoring devices can be analyzed to determine the timing and location of captures. However, challenges such as poor connectivity and limited access to power sources can create blind spots. These issues can be mitigated by exploring wireless relays and renewable energy solutions, such as solar-powered traps. Consequently, the growth of IoT technology and advancements in power sources are anticipated to introduce new trends in the smart animal trap market throughout the forecast period.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Smart Animal Trap Market
In the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, which encompasses South Africa, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, the COVID-19 pandemic presented considerable challenges across all sectors during 2020 and the first half of 2021. The pandemic prompted many individuals to remain indoors, leading to a surge in remote work practices. Initially, the smart animal trap market faced a downturn due to disrupted supply chains and a slowdown in sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, consumer electronics, and IT & telecommunications. Additionally, some developing nations in the region struggled to invest in smart animal trap systems due to significant financial losses experienced by governments and businesses.
In June 2021, a tragic incident occurred in Kenya's Mairo-inya village, where a wild hippo killed a visitor. The local government was unable to finance the implementation of a smart animal trap system due to supply chain issues that inflated deployment costs. Such events have heightened the demand for smart animal trap systems in the region. Overall, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the MEA smart animal trap market has been moderate.
The Asia Pacific region is segmented into various markets, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the rest of Asia Pacific, for the smart animal trap market analysis. With 11% of all animal species residing in China, wildlife conservation is vital for global biodiversity. Although China's conservation efforts have seen some success, human activities threaten 21.4% of vertebrate species, leading to an increased demand for monitoring devices. The expansion of wildlife trade in China also poses risks to both wildlife and humans regarding infectious zoonotic diseases, underscoring the necessity for effective animal surveillance and consequently boosting the market.
In India, the wildlife community enjoys substantial 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 utilize IoT-connected devices to monitor animal migrations and maintain ecosystems for endangered species. Furthermore, India's large livestock population presents a significant customer base for the smart animal trap market.
The Australian government's commitment to wildlife conservation is significantly enhancing the smart animal trap market within the country. Wildlife protection is managed by several private organizations, leading to high adoption rates of smart devices. For example, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the largest private landholder in the country, oversees more than 12.9 million hectares of land and various species. With its rich biodiversity and numerous rare species at risk of extinction, Australia is expected to see substantial growth in the smart animal trap market during the forecast period due to heightened awareness and an active wildlife community.
The smart animal trap market analysis includes profiles of several key companies, such as 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 companies are employing both organic and inorganic growth strategies to maintain their competitive positions. For instance, Skyhawk participated in the Texas Pest Control Expo in June 2022, which is anticipated to contribute positively to market growth during the forecast period.
To gather qualitative and quantitative insights regarding the smart animal trap market, the study conducted extensive secondary research utilizing both internal and external sources. The research process involved obtaining an overview and forecast of the market size across all segments. Additionally, primary interviews with industry participants and commentators were conducted to validate the data and gain further 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 specializing in the smart animal trap market.