The Cape Leopard Trust Research team is buzzing with excitement as they unveil the results of a significant survey of the Cederberg region.
Spanning over 1600 km² of this rugged, iconic landscape, the survey ran from June to December 2023 and promises to shed light on the elusive leopard population within one of South Africa's most pristine natural habitats.
During the survey, 67 paired camera stations were strategically placed along jeep tracks and hiking trails, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the varied montane Fynbos environment, which includes provincial and private nature reserves as well as communal lands. The challenges faced during this survey were immense, from unprecedented floods and snow to heatwaves and veld fires.
Working alongside the cutting-edge machine learning programme WildID, the research team meticulously sifted through over 240,000 photographs captured by the cameras. Remarkably, among these images, a staggering 29,000 were of human subjects, predominantly showcasing the legs of researchers, hikers, and trail runners in this popular outdoor hotspot.
However, the survey's primary focus was on the diverse wildlife inhabiting the Cederberg, and initial results are promising. The researchers have documented an impressive 29 mammal species, including beloved native wild animals such as the genet, mongoose, honey badger, aardvark, and aardwolf. the most frequently captured species include baboons, rock hyrax (dassie), klipspringers, and grey rhebucks. Bird enthusiasts will also be pleased to learn that numerous avian species were recorded, including the spotted eagle-owl, rock kestrel, hamerkop, and South African shelduck.
In a notable highlight, leopards were spotted at 60 of the 67 camera locations, achieving a remarkable success rate of 90%. Through careful analysis using the pattern recognition software of African Carnivore Wildbook and corroborated by visual identification, researchers evaluated just over 860 identifiable leopard images, resulting in the identification of 37 unique adult leopards. Notably, this year’s survey has brought the past into focus; nine leopards recorded in previous surveys conducted between 2017 and 2018 were also photographed in 2023, indicating a potential stability in their population dynamics.
With data analysis currently underway to update estimates of leopard population density in the Cederberg, researchers are poised to compare these findings to previous data. This comparative analysis will provide critical insights into population changes, aiding conservation efforts in partnership with the local community and conservation organisations.
The Cape Leopard Trust expresses immense gratitude to CapeNature for their logistical support in coordinating 26 camera stations across the Algeria, Matjiesrivier, and Kliphuis Nature Reserves. The commitment of 15 different landowners who permitted access to the remaining 41 camera stations has been invaluable. Special appreciation is extended to those landowners who assisted with fieldwork and camera maintenance, including establishments like Bushmans Kloof and Baker's Cederberg.