Although we will never find out everything about the secret shenanigans of the Dijksgracht wildlife, we can try to see some of it. That’s why, starting from January 2026, we’ll be distributing 2 to 4 wildlife cameras around the Dijksgracht 6 premises. These cameras will capture and show us all the interesting, and until now, hidden creatures that live beside us.
This project is part of realising our first key goal for our Zoönomic Annual Plan 2026: Sensitizing towards the more-than-human world within the Biotope.
Why cameras?
As a Zoöp, it is important that we learn more about the more-than-human life around us. This paves the way for successful coöperation, which is why we chose to place wildlife cameras around the premises. The footage gathered from the cameras gives us more insight into what species live here, where they find their food or shelter, in which seasons they are most active and way more. With this knowledge, we can adapt our human and organizational behavior to a symbiotic existence with the other-than-human life forms of Mediamatic.
Technicality
The cameras work with PIR sensors that detect warmth and movement. This means that an animal moving or walking past the camera will trigger the sensor, causing it to take a photo and/or video. Not only can the cameras be adapted to different needs and circumstances (e.g. sensitivity of sensors), but it also records environmental factors such as time of day and temperature.
We also have underwater cameras, which do not have sensors. This means we can only use them periodically. We mostly use them to check on underwater research and art projects.
Mediamatic staff will check the cameras frequently and add it to a ‘Wildlife catalog’. Species, time, date, weather, number of individuals are logged weekly. While general findings, like most observed species, cameras with most observations, most active times etc., are logged monthly.
All this information allows us to explore our environment and make it friendly to all the inhabitants.
Have a look
The good news is that you can also experience the animal secrets that we capture with our wildlife cameras! Every month, we will create a curated compilation of wildlife camera footage. You can browse through it online here, or experience it on a big screen in Mediamatic’s Tuinkamer. Our team and more-than-human housemates look forward to your visit!
