Anita Wilkinson, a Senior Researcher with Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), gave a fascinating presentation on the many aspects of the work that CLT does on Leopards (Panthera pardus). CLT was established in 2004 in the Cedarburg area and is now 21 years old.
Purpose and Vision of CLT: To ensure the long-term survival of leopard populations by promoting peaceful co-existence and the protection of landscapes, empowered by scientific research, positive community partnerships, education and advocacy.
The three pillars of CLT are Research, Conservation and Education. Aspects of their scientific research include leopard ecology and the human relationship with leopards using camera trap surveys, dietary analysis, habitat suitability, connectivity analysis, citizen science and social science. They work with farmers to help mitigate conflict, to educate them and to provide practical solutions in managing leopards on their properties. CLT also runs environmental education programs for young people.
A few interesting facts about leopards: Leopards are the only remaining species out of the large animals such as Cape buffalo, Cape lion, hippopotami, and elephant that once roamed freely in the Western Cape.
- The leopards of the Cape are the same species as those found in other areas in Africa.
- Males have a stronger build with a thick neck and big head. Females are more slightly built with a smaller neck and head.
- Globally leopards have lost about 75% of their historic range.
- They are an iconic species that we can use as an emblem for biodiversity.
- These magnificent animals are currently listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) Red List.
- They are an apex predator and play a vital role in maintaining the functioning and diversity of ecosystems. They help to control the meso-carnivores i.e. the middle carnivores like jackals and caracals, as well as the herbivores.
- When you protect the top animal, you protect its prey and the habitat.
In the Fynbos biome, the leopards are smaller (males weigh about 35kg while males in the Savannah biome weigh 60 – 80kg) and their density is comparatively low (about 10 fold less) compared to that of a Savannah biome of the same size.
- In the Overberg the density can range from 0.64 to 1.96 leopards per 100km2 compared to 12 leopards/100km2 in savanna areas like Sabi Sabi.
- Fynbos is difficult to digest and doesn’t sustain large herds, so leopards have to work hard to find a small prey animal in the fynbos biome
- In fynbos areas, their home range is about 10 fold larger – so they are smaller animals in big home ranges compared to the savannah biome.
- Their diets are adaptable and it’s been found that they can eat about 100 different species ranging from small prey like crickets and mice to large game.
- Their scat is analysed and checked for macro and microscopic data e.g. microscopic shapes of hair and scale patterns on the hair to identify prey species.
- In the Boland area, four species make up 80% of the leopard diet: 20 % grysbok, 16% porcupine, 24% klipspinger and 20% dassie.
- In response to a question, Anita clarified that baboons only constitute a very small percentage of a leopard’s diet. Livestock also comprises a very small percentage of their diet
Some of the threats to leopards include agriculture, urban expansion, direct persecution and fire.
Locally, a large increase in the human population has resulted in more people and fewer jobs. Hunger drives some people to hunt and use snares.- Snares are an unselective form of hunting as they can’t determine species, age or sex. They usually consist of a noose made with twine, cable wire or wire. Snares are placed into a walkway with sticks to direct the movement of the animal, and are camouflaged with foliage. The animal is caught in the snare by its feet or neck/abdomen. Sometimes the carcasses are not collected.
- Following some research on snares in the Boland mountain area, a CLT member did 200 patrols covering about 1300 km in a year. He removed about 600 snares in this area.
Incidental sightings of leopards are not common. Research relies on signs that leopard have been in the area such as:
Spoor: These sometimes can be confused with spoor of large dogs, badgers and otters. Cat spoor have three indentations at the back and two in the front. Dogs do not have retractable claws so you always see claw marks at the front of their toes. Look at the shape of the spoor and the size of toe pads in relation to footpads.- Scat (droppings): They do not bury their scat as domestic cats do. Their scat is left open and is used as a territorial marker, as well as to advertise their presence to females. Their scat content consists of lots of hair, large bone fragments, and pieces of hoof, teeth or skull. Their scat has a very high calcium content and can turn white in the sun.
- Claw marks: Clawing tree trunks is another form of territorial marking and communication. Scent from the gland between their toes is rubbed off onto the trees. This also is also a means of grooming their claws. These marks can be quite high up on a tree.
- Kill site: Experienced people can tell whether it is a leopard or caracal kill site.
Camera Traps: These are CLT’s “secret weapon” and can act as a 24-hour field worker!
Leopards can make use of the roads and hiking trails. The camera traps are put on trails where there is likely to be leopard activity.- To increase the chances of getting good pictures, the traps are positioned 30-40cm off the ground and about 2-3m away from where you expect the leopards to walk. This gives a central flank image that helps to identify the leopards.
- A camera is placed on each side of the trail, so CLT gets simultaneous left and right photos.
- This helps to create an identity for the animal as their spot patterns are unique.
- The traps also provide evidence of many other species in the CLT study areas. These include inquisitive people, curious baboons, klipspringers, grysbok, common duiker, grey rhebok, porcupine, dassies, cape hare, scrub hare, red rock rabbit, small rodents, shrews, honey badgers, small and large spotted genet, small and large grey mongoose, water mongoose, cape clawless otter, polecat, cape fox, bat eared fox, African wildcat, caracal and aardvark.
Conservation:
- CLT use their research to gain knowledge but also to feed back information into conservation planning and action. They support livestock farmers who have human-wildlife conflicts with leopards.
- Each situation is dealt with individually. Deterrent devices e.g. bells and protective collars, as well as herders, large dogs, donkeys and alpaca may be used.
- Livestock only make up a small percentage of leopard diet – it is not a staple.
- Usually a leopard will kill one or two sheep, but a leopard can get into a kraal and kill 20 sheep. They are used to hunting and chasing wildlife but when domestic animals are in a pen or fenced area, the sheep get stuck and the leopard may kill more than they can consume.
- CLT take a holistic approach to stock management and not just predator management. Leopards do help to keep numbers of meso-predators low.
- CLT has written a guide about human-wildlife conflict. They also help with snare patrol.
- They ran a competition to develop a “mobikraal” – a mobile predator-proof kraal. A trial version of the mobikraal is undergoing testing.
- Kogelberg Wildlife Spotters has 4 cameras in the mountains around Betty’s Bay and Pringle The data from these cameras is added to the CLT’s for this area.
Are you amazed at all the work that CLT does? For more information and to find out how you can support their work view their website: https://capeleopard.org.za/
Thanks to Louise du Preez for her audio recording of the event that enabled me to write this summary.