For lovers of wildlife documentaries, the hidden camera has been providing stunning images of animals up close to wow viewers. In the BBC's Dynasties, a well-placed motion detection camera at a watering hole picked up the unique moment of a male tiger meeting his baby cub for the first time.

Hidden cameras and technology have long had a part to play in conservation. Remote cameras are used to find locations and movements of animals and study them, and increasingly are used to track poachers.

Now some of the world's biggest technology companies are using artificial intelligence, facial recognition software, drones and satellite tracking to assist in the battle against the illegal wildlife trade.

One recent development has come from tech giant Intel, which is supplying cameras that can recognise human figures to help quickly identify trespassers for ranger teams. This year, the hidden cameras, known as Trailguard AI, will be deployed to the Serengeti by wildlife charity Resolve to protect elephants, and will also be brought to Africa and South East Asia

Technology has often been touted as something of a cure-all for wildlife problems. Well-meaning initiatives have sprung up to bring costly equipment to cash-strapped parks. At times it has proved an uneasy relationship.