Big brother is watching

The author lists some of the most innovative wildlife cameras

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A remote-controlled camera disguised as a life-sized penguin that can waddle, jump and even lay a fake egg to effortlessly infiltrate the aquatic bird's colony. Another one that can swim with the dolphins without arousing the suspicion of these super-intelligent mammals. And yet another one than can survive a blizzard to get up close and personal with polar bears. Here are some dream equipments created for wildlife photographers and videographers using robotics that try to encapsulate the behaviour, intelligence and extreme survival tactics of animals and, thus, offer an unprecedented glimpse into their lives. Created by Bristol-based John Downer Productions (jdp.co.uk), these spycams can currently be seen at work in a wildlife show called Spy in the Wild. Unlike the more common spy cameras such as pen, USB, watch and keychain cameras, these highly customised cameras might not be commercially available yet, but are nevertheless worth a look.