Despite the fact, that leopard is highly endangered in South Africa, its conservation status is not very high. The destruction of its habitat in KwaZulu Natal through urbanisation, pastures and intensive agriculture is responsible for the considerable decline in home territories. The high number of legal hunting licences - currently 2.500 per year – and persistent poaching exert enormous pressure on the animal population. During a recent raid, 60 leopard furs were seized.
Research Topic
LeopardLeopards are loners, holding a large territory, which is roamed on a regular basis to hunt for prey - often during the evening and at night. So it is very difficult to assess the population. At the end of the nineties, the estimated leopard population in KwaZulu Natal was 200 animals only. Exact data on the current population development and gender distribution as well as on the preferred territories of the animals may contribute to the optimisation of their protection. Therefore, the Northern Zululand Honorary Officers (NZHO) together with our Partner Wildlands Conservation Trust have initiated this data collection.
Camera Traps
The best method to count leopards is the installation of so called Remote Camera Traps along suitable sites – making good pictures of the leopards also at night. If a leopard trips the beam, the camera takes a picture. An identity-kit for each leopard discovered is being produced thus facilitating the monitoring of the local population in future. Thanks to the results of this research, the animal density and the behaviour of the leopards will be recorded and consequently enable the authorities to determine the right number of hunting licenses, to better control poaching and to decide on the establishment of pastures. Thanks to this field research, sustainable conservation management of leopards and other threatened animal species such as black and white rhino will be encouraged.
Sustainable Conservation Management
Private wildlife parks are utilized to enlarge the territories of the leopards and thus attract more tourists. An intelligent management can contribute to sustainable protection of the leopard population in South Africa. After a test phase, our leopard conservation project will be launched in the Zululand Rhino Reserve, a 23.000 hectares large sanctuary. The intensive research work can only be financed thanks to honorary commitment and donations. For the next months, we need 40.000 Euros for the purchase and installation of camera traps, the analysis and distribution of the research results to implement a protection concept, and the purchase and operation of an off-road vehicle for the field research. Please donate to help protect the endangered leopards in Zululand or become a patron of the leopard! For 120 Euro only a camera trap can be bought!
