2015 Annual Report of the Cape Leopard Trust by The Cape Leopard Trust

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WOLFS ARCH, CEDERBERG | COURTESY OF SA MINT

CONTENTS 2

Letter from the Chairman - Johan van der Westhuizen

Letter from the CEO - Helen Turnbull

The Programme Manager - Bryan Havemann

PROJECTS

Introducing Lana Müller - Cederberg Research Project

The Boland Leopard Project

Namaqualand Predator Ecology & Coexistence Experiment (PEACE)

Urban Caracal Project

Nature’s Classroom - Environmental Education

Cape Cryptic Carnivore Project

PARTNERSHIPS & EVENTS

The Animal Demography Unit (UCT)

ABSA Cape Epic & The Inaugural Cape Leopard Trail Run

2015 Fundraiser

GUEST FEATURE

Quinton Martins

Vets on the Frontline

Wupperthal Community Donkey Sterilization

FINANCIAL INTRODUCTION & SUMMARY

Statement Letter from AAN

A Special Thanks

Map

Sponsors

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Johan van der Westhuizen

Over this past year we have fine tuned our management team into an even more cohesive operating unit. Heading the organization is Helen Turnbull as our new CEO, assisted by Bryan Havemann as our project Programme Manager. We have also initiated a thorough evaluation of our financial procedures by outside professionals to ensure we run effective and compliant management systems. In addition, we are currently underway with a strategic development process to appraise the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) and define a way forward to ensure focused planning and superior results. to participate in this goal setting process so they are equipped with a thorough understanding of the role they must play in order to fulfil these responsibilities. We are confident that these combined actions will further enhance our efficiency,

an absolute imperative when managing finite

achievements are many and impressive. It is indeed

increasing human populations and the resultant

resources at both the financial and operational level.

a great honour for the CLT to be associated with the

fragmentation thereof into unsustainable entities,

ADU. Both organisations will plan and coordinate

calls for increased efforts from us all to each do

their efforts in a more cooperative manner to

our part to help protect it. This would not be

attain their collective visions. The CLT uses its

possible for us without the valuable support of

scientific research as a foundation to support its

our numerousÂ partners, sponsors, benefactors,

conservation initiatives and this partnership will

volunteers and land owners. I would like to thank

allow us to collaborate on joint conservation issues,

them all for their commitment and encouragement.

including improved communication of biodiversity

A special word of appreciation for the great support

conservation through environmental education to

we receive from SANParks, Conservation South

the broader community. We are keen to assist in

Africa, as well CapeNature, with whom we recently

expanding the network of citizen scientists and

concluded a new MoU for future collaboration.

Of great significance this year is that we realised our longstanding wish to establish a Scienctific Advisory Board, chaired by Dr. Bill Horsnell (Trustee) and comprising of eminent academics in conservation biology based at various prominent South African universities. We are extremely fortunate and grateful that they are willing to allocate some of their precious time and expertise to advise and assist us with evaluating CLT research projects. This will ensure that CLT research projects and its researchers are of the highest standard, an emphasis which will further enhance our standing in academic and conservation circles, both locally and internationally. We are excited that the CLT has recently signed an MoU with the Animal Demography Unit (ADU) of the University of Cape Town. The ADU is an esteemed, world-renowned organization and its

their participation with the ADU MammalMAP. The potential of involving schools, agricultural colleges, farmers and farm worker groups has tremendous potential to educate and cultivate positive attitudes towards the environment and conservation. The alarming extent at which our wildlife habitat is being altered and modified by ever

Many thanks also to our hard working personnel, whose daily efforts I find to be exceptional. My appreciation also goes to our new Scientific Advisory Board and my fellow Trustees for their support and wise counsel. It is an honour for me to be part of the The Cape Leopard Trust.

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Our personnel have been given the opportunity

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of great significance this year is that we realised our longstanding wish to establish a scientific advisory board, chaired by Dr. Bill Horsnell (trustee) and comprising of eminent academics in conservation biology based at various prominent South African universities.â&#x20AC;?

LET T ER F ROM THE CHA I R M A N

Letter from the Chairman

Helen Turnbull

A YEAR IN REVIEW

in a complementary role, and the second with the

for 2015. As many of you know this has been a

agreements not only open up new possibilities for

Welcome to The Cape Leopard Trust annual report year of transition with the departure of Trust cofounder and CEO, Dr Quinton Martins to his new territory and appointment with the Snow Leopard Conservancy in California. Back in January when I was asked to take on the role as Acting CEO,

LET T ER F ROM THE CEO

Letter from the CEO

I focused on the road ahead filled with anticipation and awe. It was now my responsibility to steer the organisation on a true and steady course building on its solid foundations.The core vision and philosophy remains the same: to ensure the protection of leopards using scientific research and narrative, with environmental education as the conduit to inspire others to become guardians of our wilderness areas. As South Africa continues to reel from the onslaught on its natural resources from illegal poaching and habitat devastation, conservation focused in their efforts to affect positive change. We have done this by working stoically towards formalising partnerships, and signing two significant documents. A Memorandum of Understanding with CapeNature, enabling us to work alongside them

joint research and funding, but more importantly

create a louder voice for advocating the protection of our biodiversity. Conservation has undergone a shift from its traditional territorial reputation

and cooperation is now the key going forward,

particularly in the light of the forthcoming CITES conference to be held in South Africa in 2016. We continue to raise our profile through our

involvement with regional sports events. The ABSA

Cape Epic saw the first ‘Bridgestone Cape Leopard’

“ The core vision and philosophy remains the same: to ensure the protection of leopards using scientific research and narrative, with environmental education as the conduit to inspire others to become guardians of our wilderness areas.”

team, unbelievably finishing amongst the top 70 in a grueling race, which over eight days takes teams across spectacular countryside in leopard territory.

Forty cyclists completed the Cape Town Cycle Tour

for our cause, and in October the inaugural Cascade Cape Leopard Trust Trail Run took place in Paarl.

We check in with Quinton from his new home in

the USA as he updates us on the situation abroad with mountain cat conservation, and we warmly

welcome Lana Müller to the CLT fold, fresh from her work with the Maasai Wildlife Conservation

Trust (MWCT) and Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS). Lana will continue Quinton’s leopard research

based in the Cederberg and expand on the existing

by us enabling our work to constantly evolve, the

hoped. I feel especially privileged to have recently

footprint. She shares some of her background with

donors who believe in us and to our enthusiastic

been offered the position as official CEO of the

us as she prepares to take up her new assignment.

board of Trustees, whose guidance is always so

Trust and look forward with confidence to 2016

Her experience with human-wildlife conflict and

willingly given. The final thanks is to the special

with the plethora of possibilities that lie ahead.

big cats makes Lana the perfect candidate to work

individuals who make up The Cape Leopard Trust,

with local farmers, Cederberg communities and

whose commitment and hard work make sure we

CapeNature to ensure the area remains a protected

continue to push new boundaries.

stronghold for leopards. We would like to express our immense gratitude to the friends and supporters who continue to stand

Let us take you on a journey of 2015 as we reflect on the achievements of the last twelve months, which have yielded so much more than I could have

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organisations must scale up and become more

Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at UCT. These

In late 2014 Trust co-founder and lead researcher,

recently established Cape Leopard Trust Scientific

snares, a novel research concept that has not yet

year, we salute your efforts and dedication. We

Dr Quinton Martins, left South Africa to take up

Education programme there in partnership with

Advisory Board. Lana comes with a comprehensive

CapeNature.

carnivore research background from across Africa,

been explored.

hope that the time with us has inspired you to be

his new post with the Snow Leopard Conservancy based in California, USA. His departure prompted

and joined the Trust in November 2015. Her

a year of deep introspection, where all aspects of

comprehensive biography is featured in this report

the organisation and its identity were thoroughly

and introduces her most recent work with the

interrogated, and as a result of that decisions taken

Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT)

on its future direction. As Programme Manager it

Yvonne Kamp Administrator

Bryan Havemann

is a pleasure for me to introduce the current Cape Leopard Trust projects and report on their progress. The research and education work is coordinated on the ground by an incredible team of people and it is a privilege to work with them. The strong administrative backbone of the organisation is maintained by Yvonne Kamp, an all important ‘behind the scenes’ support system ensuring that ‘day to day’ business processes are achieved seamlessly. Working for an environmental NGO and monitoring its accountability is integral to the health of the organisation.

coordinator to oversee the Cederberg was rewarded when Lana Müller was appointed after more than 42 potential candidates were considered. Lana will be incorporating operations management into her role and all scientific research will be guided by the

Environmental Education is an integral part of our identity. The residential wilderness camp at Matjiesrivier in the Cederberg is a successful partnership with CapeNature, and demand for camps is such that dates are booked up to a year in advance. The Cape Town programme is now more established, offering wilderness day trips and presentations to schools allowing us to increase capacity. Awareness raising remains an important part of the work done by the EE team. Catherine and Hadley are our two dedicated Environmental Educators, and Nicole le Roux has been a fantastic support as project coordinator. The Boland area is being considered as an additional camp option, and suitable locations are currently being explored. We are acutely aware of the need for a programme such as ours in the Gouritz area, and a long term vision is to see the establishment of a new Environmental

by Dr Bogdan Cristescu and Kristine Teichman, has persevered this year despite enduring severe hardships, which included having severely limited access to water, sometimes for up to ten days at a time. The partnership between the CLT, Conservation South Africa and Woolworths has seen its fair share of challenges, but each of these eventualities is recorded transparently, and has shown us that more research is needed to estimate the true cost to our wildlife of meat production. The rugged Namaqualand landscape has thrown us many curved balls, but the resulting research is already yielding tangible results that will assist Woolworths with future decision making in terms of how ‘wildlife friendly’ lamb can be produced, as well as potentially guiding similar work in alternative areas. The Boland research team, Jeannie Hayward and Anita Meyer have recently celebrated their half decade with the Cape Leopard Trust and continue

The Urban Caracal Project in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) is a partnership between the CLT, SANParks and UCT, and has grown exponentially during 2015 into world class research breaking new ground on many levels, including the creation of genetic markers for caracals. Post doctoral researcher, Dr Laurel Serieys, has shown incredible commitment getting this project successfully off the ground from scratch. Despite personal challenges that have impacted her progress in 2015, Laurel continues to drive the project professionally, and is achieving great results. Elani Steenkamp successfully completed her camera trap and leopard scat survey in the Gouritz/ Little Karoo area, and the Trust maintains contact with the CapeNature officials in the area that have

you are in the world. Veterinary support is compulsory by law at all animal captures. It is more often than not given freely and enthusiastically, but one Cape Town vet has gone way beyond the call of duty during 2015. He has assisted us on a voluntary basis to support both the Namaqualand PEACE, and the Urban Caracal projects, which necessitated extensive travel and a hefty donation of his personal time as well as expertise. It is therefore fitting that we feature Dr Bruce Stevens of Hout Bay as a guest in this report. In addition, we have included an update on the latest CVC animal sterilisation intervention, which involved surgery on 20 working donkeys of

transport for this remote Cederberg community. It is the second animal sterilisation initiative the

volunteers who tirelessly donate their time and

facilitate biodiversity conservation in the Winelands

resources to assist the research projects, making

research area. A feasibility study will begin in 2016

sure they can reach their goals. For the volunteers

to investigate the extent of illegal hunting with wire

who have been part of the projects over this past

leopard and many other smaller species such as the pangolin all have uncertain futures and are affected by the burgeoning illegal wildlife trade. The Cape Leopard Trust is resolute in its desire to make a tangible difference, and with sound strategic plans in place, working with key partners, we aim to make an impact that will be far reaching and

meaningful. We cannot afford to be complacent, and our approach must be ambitious if we are to achieve tangible conservation action. We look forward to consolidating key relationships going forward, working collaboratively to create a sustainable future for all creatures, enabled by the dynamic team that is The Cape Leopard Trust.

tourism initiative as well as providing much needed

completing her PhD on Brown Hyena.

to impress us with their enthusiasm to promote and

unrelenting poaching. However, the lion, elephant,

Wupperthal. These donkeys are part of a heritage

supported her as well as Elsa Bussiére, currently

The unsung heroes of the Trust have to be the

focus internationally, especially this past year with

Trust has been able to support, thanks to one of our funders. As a predator research organisation The Cape Leopard Trust is very aware of the plight of not only predators but many other keystone species across

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The extensive search to find a suitable research

as well as other conservation organisations.

The Namaqualand PEACE Project, facilitated

ambassadors of biodiversity conservation wherever

the continent of Africa. The rhino has been the main

WO RDS F ROM THE P R OG RA M M E M A NAG ER

Words from the Programme Manager

After a lengthy selection process Lana finally

joined us as our new Cederberg based Research Coordinator, to continue with and build on the

leopard investigation work started by Quinton. She

comes to us fresh from her involvement in carnivore

research and community-based wildlife conservation in a variety of parks and conservation areas over the last 5 years.

Lana was born in South Africa and from an early age

travelled extensively with her family across Africa. As

a result, she developed a keen interest in wildlife and a particular passion for predators.

Inspired by her experiences Lana followed her

dream, to one day work with big cats in the African bush. She obtained a BSc degree in Conservation

Ecology at Stellenbosch University and subsequently decided to spread her wings and continue her

studies at Leiden University in The Netherlands, the

main motivation being their lion research projects in Cameroon and Kenya.

on lion-livestock conflict in Waza National Park in

northern Cameroon, evaluating the effect of moon phase and seasons on livestock predation by lions

with the aim of identifying “high risk” periods. The idea being that this knowledge would encourage

Lana’s next project took her to the Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, where she explored the genetic variation of lion populations in southern Kenya. The biggest challenge for the survival of lions is loss of habitat and habitat fragmentation. The depletion of their natural prey base as a result of bush meat poaching is an additional threat. Although most parks in Africa are unfenced, the human population around these protected areas has increased significantly making it difficult for individual lions to disperse when they reach adulthood. Genetic inbreeding in lion populations is becoming more common as a result and is detrimental for their sustained existence, reducing the chances of successful reproduction and thus affecting the genetic integrity of lion populations.

After successfully completing her MSc incorporating both of these initiatives, Lana packed up her life in The Netherlands and returned to South Africa where she started an overland trip from Cape Town to Kenya, looking to contribute positively to the conservation of large predators. Fortunately, Lana soon found herself an opportunity to work

as a volunteer with the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT). The MWCT’s efforts focus on working with Maasai communities traversing the landscapes of Kenya’s Chyulu Hills, within the world-famous Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem. MWCT aims to protect the biodiversity of East Africa through a range of conservation initiatives that directly benefit the local communities. After just 3 months Lana was appointed permanently as Conservation Manager to oversee the various conservation programmes. These included the training of community rangers, wildlife monitoring, running a predator compensation programme, developing environmental education and the Kuku lion project. Lana embraced the challenge and soon developed a special bond with the local Maasai, based on her sensitive understanding of local culture and traditions. This mutually respectful relationship resulted in Lana being able to train and develop a motivated team of local rangers and scouts over 170 strong, who excelled in their efforts to bring about a change of mindset in the traditional way of life of the Maasai tribes, thus motivating the communities to conserve their natural resources as a conduit to ensure the sustainable use thereof.

As Conservation Manager at MWCT Lana lived out her childhood dream for almost 4 years; during which time she made friends and earned the respect of not only the local Maasai but also like-minded international conservationists.

“...she soon realized that Africa’s cats remain her passion, and this has been our good fortune.”

Lana returned to South Africa at the beginning of 2015 as Area Manager for Human Wildlife Solutions, the organisation tasked with monitoring humanbaboon conflict in the Cape Peninsula. However, she soon realized that Africa’s cats remain her passion, and this has been our good fortune. Lana is confident that with her knowledge of human-wildlife conflict and expertise in community based conservation, combined with her local farm upbringing and insights, she is well placed to make a valuable contribution to the Trust. Her existing links with MWCT and numerous collaborations will complement our efforts to protect both leopards, and the rich biodiversity of the Cape Cederberg mountains and beyond.

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Her first project involved conducting research

the pastoralist community to adopt new husbandry strategies to minimise the incidence of predator conflict, thus reducing the incidence of retaliatory killing of lions.

INT RO D U CI NG LANA M Ü L L ER

Introducing Lana Müller – Cederberg Research Project

Jeannie Hayward & Anita Meyer

JANE GOODALL

species’ ecology as well as international camera In our modern era of societal disconnect from

the basis for further studies. A substantial sample

nature it is more important than ever to understand,

of leopard scats (droppings) were collected and

care for and wisely manage natural resources and

analysed, which served to establish a representative

wildlife. This is the approach we take as The Cape

contemporary record of leopard diet for the region.

Leopard Trust’s Boland Project. Underpinning

Identification of individual leopards and knowledge

our work are three core focal themes – research,

of estimated territories from the camera trap photo

conservation and education – interlinked and

data poised the project for a detailed telemetry

complementary.

study of habitat use and movement patterns of

The Boland Project area comprises roughly 2000km2 of Mountain Fynbos habitat which includes six Protected Areas managed by two statutory conservation bodies (CapeNature; City of Cape Town Biodiversity Management), as well as water catchment areas, private nature reserves and privately owned land adjacent to the core protected areas. Also noteworthy is that this area overlaps with the UNESCO designated Cape Winelands and Kogelberg Biosphere Reserves – recognised for their biological and cultural diversity and value. Established in March 2010, the Boland Project to record leopard presence and estimate their numbers, to document mammal distribution and relative abundance, and to create public awareness about leopards. This baseline leopard research, the first for the area in three decades, formed

environment of the Boland mountains using GPS

were spaced relatively far apart along gravel tracks and hiking trails (only two camera stations within a 50km2 area with no two stations closer than 2km from one another). Similar to most camera trapping studies on large felids, we recorded a higher incidence of males on camera traps (more individuals and more regularly); even though the sex ratio is skewed towards females and there should thus be more females in

collar data.

a given area (this is also confirmed by GPS collar

FINDING FEMALE FELINES

use the habitat differently to males – with males

Over the past ten years, the CLT researchers have learnt a great deal about leopards in the Western Cape, and in our case specifically in the Boland. However, we have really just begun to scratch at the surface and there are a number of questions that we do not yet have a firm grasp of. One of these intriguing enigmas is the matter of why female leopards are so camera shy. Leopards are far-ranging animals with vast territories. In order to optimally survey a large area (with finite resources) and to maximize the chances of recording as many different individuals as possible, our 2010 to 2013 camera survey design was informed by basic knowledge of our study

data). From GPS data we also know that females moving in a more linear, direct fashion and females criss-crossing the habitat and generally moving in a more random fashion. We subsequently decided to test the efficacy of a higher density camera trap design for the detectability of female leopards in the Boland mountains, and this directed our efforts in 2015. In partnership with the Boland team, Willem BriersLouw, a final-year Conservation Ecology student at Stellenbosch University, ran a high-intensity camera survey in a sub-sample of the larger area that we had previously surveyed. The aim was to determine whether doubling the number of camera stations per unit area will record more females, compared to

Males can be distinguished from females by the presence of external testes at the base of the tail. Furthermore they have very thick and muscular necks and shoulders, with large heads and massive paws. Females are much lighter and leaner, with smaller heads and paws, and of course the absence of external testes. The latter is the only absolute way to sex them, because muscular appearance can be somewhat deceiving on single photographs. We chose to set double camera stations (two cameras opposite each other) to increase the chances of

obtaining identikits (simultaneous left and right flank shots of an individual), and to increase the likelihood of being able to sex each individual. Preliminary findings from this survey indicate that increasing the density of cameras in a smaller area does not result in more female photos at all. In fact, over the 4 month survey period, 23 photos were obtained of 4 different males, versus only a single photo of a female. There are a number of possible explanations for this massive disparity, but in essence this once again highlights the extremely elusive nature of female Cape leopards. Leopards in the Fynbos habitats of the Cape mountains are known to be exceedingly hard to find, but it seems like females are making it their mission to not get picked up on cameras or caught in research traps!

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started out as a large-scale camera trap survey

leopards in the fragmented, human-modified

trapping standards and trends. Camera stations

the more conventional larger grid.

T HE B O LAND L EOPARD P R OJ ECT

The Cape Leopard Trust Boland Project

“Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.”

little about Cape leopard reproductive behaviour and female-specific habitat needs – they are virtually impossible to study. Truly the ghost cats of the Cape mountains! IDENTIFYING THREATS TO THE PERSISTENCE OF LEOPARDS IN THE BOLAND AND WESTERN CAPE A vital element in safeguarding the long-term

persistence of leopards in the Fynbos Biome is not only to ‘understand’ their ecology and behaviour, but also the habitat, the species they share that habitat with (including humans) and the threats faced by them. An understanding of these various aspects enables effective management and mitigation. The primary drivers for the decline in

leopard numbers and distribution in Southern Africa are attributed to the loss and fragmentation of suitable habitat, direct persecution by people and depletion of natural prey. Interestingly though, leopards (and by association also we as conservationists), should be thankful for the geological forces that shaped the Cape Fold Mountains – for these mountains now offer a refuge amidst otherwise altered, fragmented or lost habitat. Leopards are versatile, adaptable and opportunistic – characteristics that have enabled these elusive, solitary felines to persist in suitable the extirpation of historically sympatric large herbivores and predators. However, with human population numbers ever increasing, threats to

periphery of the natural habitat – in the contact zone between wilderness and the urban/agricultural edge. Potential threats in this zone include further loss of habitat, road mortalities, exposure to pesticides (e.g. anticoagulant rat poisons) and illegal hunting with wire snares and hunting dogs. In the Western Cape, illegal hunting of leopards, specifically targeting leopards for their skin, is virtually non-existent in comparison to KwaZuluNatal and other regions in the Savanna Biome where leopard densities are much higher and the cats are comparatively easy to find. However, over the past 5 years, the Boland team had received numerous reports on the discovery of wire snares on private property – reportedly used to illegally hunt small game for food. Such snare traps are crudely anchored cable or wire nooses set to catch wild animals, often along fence lines and on game trails. Wire snares are specified as a prohibited hunting method, and setting such snares is a criminal offence under the Western CapeNature Conservation Ordinance (Ordinance 19 of 1974). Our interest and concern is the potential negative ecological impact that uncontrolled and unsustainable hunting will have on the natural prey base needed to support the leopard population. Additionally, although leopards are not targeted directly, they use the same paths along which snares are set and can also get captured, severely injured or maimed, and even killed. Illegal hunting

leopard survival and pressure on their habitat are

with snares is particularly undesirable from a

also steadily building.

conservation perspective, however it is a highly

“ Our interest and concern is the potential negative ecological impact that uncontrolled and unsustainable hunting will have on the natural prey base needed to support the leopard population.” effective method that requires little cost and

be conducting a formal study on the

minimal effort from the hunter. Such snares are also

long-term conservation needs of the

highly unselective (in terms of species as well as

leopard population in the region. A

age and sex class of animals caught), wasteful (as

main objective will be to understand the

snares are often forgotten or not checked regularly

drivers of this illegal hunting method

resulting in the death of captured animals), and

with the ultimate aim of designing intervention

from an animal welfare concern animals are often

and mitigation methods and to advocate for the

severely injured and maimed. This hunting method

implementation thereof. A multi-level environmental

is difficult to control because snares are not easily

education programme within local communities

detected, can be set in large numbers, and often

should be tied with this project for maximum

placed on private property.

impact, in order to educate people about the

In 2015 we launched a preliminary investigation to ascertain whether illegal hunting for bush-meat is indeed a common and widespread phenomenon in the Boland. There is overwhelming evidence that this is indeed the case, as exemplified by

FIGURE 1: LOCATIONS OF SNARES FOUND BY A FIELD RANGER IN ELGIN (SEE TEXT FOR DETAILS)

negative impacts of unsustainable practices, the value of healthy ecosystems and to motivate alternative livelihood practices. HUMAN/WILDLIFE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT In the Boland Project area, farmer conflict with

Figure 1. This map depicts snares found by a

leopards (and other predators) is comparatively

single field ranger retrospectively over the last 5

infrequent due to the fairly low incidence of

years on the borders of the Elgin valley. A project

livestock farming in the area – the dominant

such as this involves a lot of buy-in and support

agricultural land-use being vineyards, orchards and

from various stakeholders. The foundation work

other crops. However, over the years the Boland

for a pilot project has now been completed,

Project has established itself as a reputable authority

and in collaboration with our conservation

on leopard ecology, resulting in landowners from

partners and the cooperation of conservancies

further afield approaching the team for advice and

and private landowners, the Boland team will

assistance following depredation events. We work

LEOPARD TRACKS

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habitat in the Western Cape Fynbos Biome despite

The area of highest risk falls primarily on the

T HE B O LAND L EOPARD P R OJ ECT

This also explains why we still know so preciously

T HE B O LAND L EOPARD P R OJ ECT

T HE B O LAND L EOPARD P R OJ ECT CAPENATURE HWC PRACTICAL TRAINING

CAPENATURE HWC PRACTICAL TRAINING

BOLAND SIGNBOARD

CAMERA OUTING WITH PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, USA

TEAM BOLAND

DEPLOYING CAMERA SPONSORED BY SANLAM HIKING CLUB

15 closely with our conservation partner CapeNature to

to engage farmers in working toward holistic and

manage these incidents.

sustainable livestock husbandry methods.

The Boland team participated in a CapeNature Human/Wildlife Conflict Management Practical

PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

The jutting peaks and rutted ravines of the Boland mountains, towering over towns like Wellington,

species of predator kills its prey and feeds on a

Paarl, Rawsonville, Villiersdorp, Grabouw,

carcass in a signature way. Sometimes secondary

Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Somerset West,

predation or scavenging takes place before a

Gordon’s Bay and Kleinmond, are key geographical

carcass is found, which can confound the signature

landmarks in the Western Cape. Hundreds of

patterns and make it more difficult to identify

thousands of people see these mountains from a

the primary predator. Good field experience,

distance every day, and tens of thousands more live

carcass evaluation skills and the capacity to make

and farm on their slopes, drive through and around

knowledgeable recommendations are vital elements

them and use them as a recreational area. And yet

in handling depredation events in a professional

one of the most important original inhabitants of

manner. Building and maintaining relationships and

these mountains remains unknown to the majority

gaining the trust of landowners are the best ways

of people that live and visit here.

is public awareness and education. Within this framework, the Boland team recognised the importance of informative educational signage boards highlighting terrestrial mammal diversity in the Boland. Apart from baboon and whale information boards, there were virtually no other information boards about the mammal fauna living in the Cape, whether along roads, at key tourist sites or other visitor points. To address this void, the Boland team, in collaboration with our conservation partner CapeNature, designed an interpretive signboard highlighting mammal diversity and the role of the leopard (Panthera pardus) as the apex terrestrial predator in the Cape’s Mountain Fynbos habitats. Twenty of these large-format signboards now dot

the Boland region at view points along common

contribute their photo data to the Boland Project

provincial routes, popular tourist areas, CapeNature

database. A great number of fantastic photos and

and City of Cape Town nature reserves. A further 35

thrilling records have been obtained in this way –

boards were manufactured for 27 different private

all data points that would not have existed had it

properties including wine farms, private reserves

not been for the interest and buy-in from public

and private hiking trails. By all accounts, the boards

citizen scientists.

have generated a huge amount of public interest and a new appreciation for the diversity of mammals that exist in the rugged Fynbos mountains. As in previous years, a high premium is placed on public participation in the form of private camera traps. More and more landowners are expressing interest in obtaining their own remotesensing cameras. The Boland team assists with the procurement, placement and set-up of these cameras, on the basis that the landowners then

IN CONCLUSION

Five years after the initiation of the CLT Boland Project, the Boland team is still going strong and the project continues to move dynamically forward. The Boland Project has established itself as a wellknown, reputable long-term research and conservation project and continues to provide invaluable data on leopards and other mammals in the region. Though 2015 has been a year of changes and transitions we remain dedicated to the cause and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie in wait in 2016.

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Training Workshop during September 2015. Each

One of the Boland Project’s main mandates

FIGURE 2: BEFORE-AFTER-CONTROL-IMPACT DESIGN

We have used a Before-After-Control-Impact study design that allows us to compare current predator control methods to strictly non-lethal predator control methods and see whether the tested methods are ecologically and economically sustainable for farmers and their livestock (figure 2). We have recently wrapped up data collection for the ‘Before’ or baseline period of the study and we commenced the ‘After’ or treatment period when guarding dogs and EcoRangers are actively protecting livestock from predators. With the assistance of a livestock insurance policy, farmers have ceased their lethal predator control methods during the ‘After’ period in the treatment farm groups.

2. using human and habitat variables to identify caracal habitat and kill site selection and 3. comparing leopard, caracal and black-backed jackal diet on farmlands to a protected area.

TREATMENT FARM GROUP 2

CONTROL FARM GROUP

Current Farm Management

Patrol & Repair Fences Lambs to Safe Camps King Collars Gin Traps Killer Traps Poison Collars Night Hunts

Before Treatment Implementation: all 3 farm groups applied current predator control methods.

In addition to our main objective of testing non-lethal predator control methods, we are also: 1. assessing whether trophic cascades are occurring on farmlands by comparing biological diversity on farmland and a protected area (Namaqua National Park),

TREATMENT FARM GROUP 1

FIGURE 1:

The study area is located in the Northern Cape, South Africa and includes Namaqua National Park (solid green) and surrounding commercial farmlands (solid white). Namaqua National Park Surrounding Commercial Famrlands

TREATMENT FARM GROUP 1

TREATMENT FARM GROUP 2

CONTROL FARM GROUP

Non-lethal Farm Management

Current Farm Management

Cease all lethal managment

Introduce EcoRangers & Gaurding Dogs

Patrol & Repair Fences Lambs to Safe Camps King Collars Gin Traps Killer Traps Poison Collars Night Hunts

After Guarding Dog & EcoRanger Introduction: 2 farm groups ceased lethal management (Treatment groups) while the Control farm group continued same predator management as ‘Before’ period.

A NN UAL R EP O RT 2 0 15

The Predator Ecology And Coexistence Experiment (Wildlife-Friendly Lamb Project) in Namaqualand (figure 1) is supported by multiple sponsors and funders and includes Woolworths as our main funder.

Guarding dogs and humans accompanying domestic flocks is not a new concept and has been used across the globe for centuries in an attempt to limit livestock predation. However, very few studies have analysed actual (versus perceived) livestock losses to predators or fine-scale predator movement patterns in response to guarding dog and human presence. Because it is not possible to determine if a predator killed livestock without assessing a carcass, we navigate to hundreds of locations, or GPS clusters, where caracal, the most abundant predator in our study system, have spent a long period of time in a small space. Once we locate the cluster centroid we systematically search for signs indicative of a kill. To this end, we are using GPS radio telemetry to help us identify the actual proportion and biomass of livestock in caracal diet. In addition, we are using GPS technology on predators, livestock, EcoRangers and guarding dogs to track movement patterns in relation to one another, which will provide valuable information on how caracals respond spatially and

temporally to the applied experimental treatments.

BEFORE PERIOD

PROJECT OVERVIEW There is no limit to the challenges faced when working in a predator-farmer conflict area. Whether it be a caracal taking lambs or an Anatolian dog being spat at by a spitting cobra, issues arise and solutions are sought. For the past two years we have been working hand in hand with Conservation South Africa, South African National Parks, Canadian and South African universities and, most importantly, commercial farmers. Our primary aim has been to test the effectiveness of Livestock Guarding Dogs and EcoRangers at protecting livestock from predators. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in the success of this project and we are grateful for all of the support throughout the rough and good times alike! We have had a challenging yet productive year and have thus yielded some interesting preliminary results!

Woolworths has been interested in marketing a Wildlife-Friendly Lamb product for some time and, with their support, we were able to design a rigorous scientific study (treatment, replication and control) to see just how well guarding dogs and EcoRangers work at protecting sheep and goats from predators compared to more lethal approaches.

AFTER PERIOD

Dr Bogdan Cristescu & Kristine Teichman

“Once we locate the cluster centroid we systematically search for signs indicative of a kill.”

T HE P EACE P ROJ ECT

The Predator Ecology and Coexistence Experiment (PEACE) in the succulent Karoo, Namaqualand

FIGURE 4: Male ( ) and female ( ) caracal home ranges are shown prior to introduction of Livestock Guarding Dogs and EcoRangers. The camera grid will be active for the duration of the study.

Caracal diet on farmlands prior to Livestock Guarding Dogs and EcoRangers introduction.

FIGURE 5: Comparison of caracal movement before (a) and after (b) Livestock Guarding Dog introduction. ‘BEFORE DOG’ INTRODUCTION

‘AFTER DOG’ INTRODUCTION

Diet is estimated from identifying kill sites from GPS cluster visitations for

T HE P EACE P ROJ ECT

FIGURE 3:

a) all collared caracal, b) adult male caracal, c) sub-adult male caracal and Female Caracal home range

d) adult female caracal.

Male Caracal home range Namaqua National Park Farmland Boundaries Camera Grid Sheep Locations

Caracal Locations

Caracal Locations with Camp Boundary

Farm Camp Boundary

19 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS Caracal response to Anatolian guarding dog and EcoRanger presence

During the baseline period of the study we outfitted fourteen caracal with GPS radio-collars. Of the

fourteen caracals monitored seven were adult male, four were sub-adult male and three were adult female. GPS technology was needed to assess

location of the kill. We will complement our GPS diet data with scat analysis to identify small prey items

that would not be detected at a GPS cluster location. Caracal Diet

We visited 675 GPS cluster locations of caracal on

Caracal Home Range Similar to other felid species, female caracal home ranges overlapped multiple male caracal ranges. During the baseline period, using Minimum Convex Polygons to calculate home range size, we found that the the average female home range was 12km2 and average male caracal home range was just over three

times the size of a females range at 37 km2 (Figure 4). Our next step is to compare home range size and identify any shifts in home range once the Livestock Guarding Dogs and EcoRangers are actively protecting livestock from predators. Caracal Movement in relation to livestock and guarding dog movements GPS radio-collars on caracals, livestock and guarding dogs are programmed to record a coordinate every three hours and that allows us to monitor fine-scale movement patterns. Although it is too early in the study to draw conclusions, it is starting to look like caracals are slightly shifting their movements to the edges of the camps where guarding dogs are actively protecting livestock (Figure 5).

Prey availability Because predator behaviour is largely driven by their prey, we have also maintained a camera grid (Figure 4) that spans across the collared caracal home ranges in order to control for prey availability during the baseline and treatment periods of the study. The baseline period data are being compiled in a software program, Timelapse, that organizes photos in preparation for analyses. In addition we have completed small mammal live trapping to estimate density of small mammal prey species that would not be detected using cameras. Comparing Biodiversity on Farmlands to a Protected Area We are happy to report that all of the data have been collected to compare small to large mammalian

diversity and woody shrub diversity on farmlands to a protected area. The data have been entered and organized and are now ready for analyses. Caracal Habitat and Kill Site Selection To date we have captured, radio-collared and released seventeen caracals to assess home rangescale movement patterns on farmlands based on a suite of anthropogenic and habitat characteristics. We will use Geographic Information System (GIS), satellite imagery and GPS technology to calculate ecologically relevant variables and identify what influences caracal movement the most. For example, are caracal movement decisions most influenced by the distance between them and guarding dogs in conjunction with wild prey abundance and terrain ruggedness, or is it the combination of sheep

abundance and density of electrified fencing that caracal movement is most affected by? Or perhaps there is only one main driver to caracal habitat selection. In addition to broad-scale habitat selection of caracals we are also using a fine-scale approach to learn about what type of habitat caracals select for when killing prey. To this end, at each kill site and associated random site we are carrying out pellet group transects and vegetation surveys to quantify prey richness and density as well as vegetation structure and composition, respectively. By April 2016 we will have enough data to use rigorous statistical modelling to find out the answer to these questions and use this information to provide additional knowledge to farmers for livestock management purposes.

A NN UAL R EP O RT 2 0 15

caracal diet because of the need to identify the

farmlands in the baseline period and found 140 kills that consisted of 107 wild prey and 33 domestic prey items. Adult male caracal had the most diverse prey consisting of 10 prey species (Figure 3). Subadult male and adult female caracal had similar diet patterns with rock hyrax and scrub hare being the most common prey species (Figure 3). On the other hand, adult male caracal diet consisted mostly of sheep followed by rock hyrax.

frequency of occurrence was calculated for each prey item for each study animal.

Leopard

Caracal

Black-backed Jackal

Because small mammals make up a large proportion of caracal diet, it can also be problematic to only rely on GPS-identified kill sites when assessing diet as a tool to mitigate human-carnivore conflict in an area.

A comparison of leopard, black-backed jackal and caracal diet on farmlands to a protected area Scat analysis is a useful non-invasive research tool to estimate predator diet. We analysed leopard (n=82), caracal (n=250) and black-backed jackal (n=196) scat collected opportunistically in the field, along pre-determined transects and at caracal GPS location cluster sites. We found that leopard most frequently consumed rock hyrax (29.75%), duiker (16.07%), steenbok (10.71%) and klipspringer (10.71%) in a protected area whereas leopard diet on farmlands consisted primarily of livestock (40.43%) and medium mammals (34.26%). This suggests that livestock may replace the role of wild medium-large mammalian prey in leopard diet on the farmlands. Interestingly, a larger percentage of goat remains were found in scats collected in the dry season (21.08%) compared to the wet season (9.09%).

seasonal differences in diet. In the wet season small mammals made up over 50% of jackal diet, compared to the dry season where diet was supplemented with medium mammals and more invertebrates. For assessing caracal diet we were able to compare two techniques, namely GPS cluster visitations and scat analysis. For scat analysis, rock hyrax (33.50%), lagomorpha (15.82%) and Otomys spp. (10.20%) occurred largely in caracal diet in the national park with small mammals being consumed more often compared to surrounding farmlands. Similarly, the total biomass consumed in the park was greatest for rock hyrax (38.59%), lagomorpha (16.48%) and Otomys spp. (8.88%). On farmlands the three prey items consumed most frequently also included rock hyrax (29.71%), lagomorpha (20.50%) and Otomys spp. (7.13%), however, rock hyrax (34.44%), lagomorpha (21.80%) and sheep (7.05%) were the main prey items contributing to the total biomass consumed. Caracals also notably ate more birds in the wet season compared to the dry season. When visiting GPS cluster locations of eight collared caracal looking for kill sites, small mammal prey were not detected therefore demonstrating

how this technique can overestimate larger prey items, including livestock, in a caracal’s diet. Because small mammals make up a large proportion of caracal diet, it can also be problematic to only rely on GPS-identified kill sites when assessing diet as a tool to mitigate human-carnivore conflict in an area. In fact, there was higher occurrence of livestock at kill sites compared to scat analysis. Next step In order to compare predator ecology before and after the introduction of Livestock Guarding Dogs and EcoRangers our next step is to repeat predator diet and prey availability data collection for the treatment period. We are very interested to learn whether livestock losses to predators will decrease, increase or remain the same compared to the baseline period! For caracal, we will also compare spatial ecology during the baseline period to the treatment period when guard dogs and Eco Rangers are protecting livestock.

SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS

Jansen C, Leslie AJ & Martins Q (Sept 2015) Diet of key predators responsible for livestock conflict in Namaqualand, South Africa. South African Wildlife Management Association Symposium. Kimberley, South Africa Teichman KJ, Cristescu B, O’Riain J & Hodges KE (Sept 2015) Caracal diet and home range on farmlands in the Succulent Karoo. South African Wildlife Management Association Symposium. Kimberley, South Africa Teichman KJ, Cristescu B, O’Riain J & Hodges KE (October 2015) Caracal (Caracal caracal) ecology: diet, home range and movement patterns on farmlands in Namaqualand. Arid Zone Ecology Forum. Springbok, South Africa

A NN UAL R EP O RT 2 0 15

Also derived from scat analysis, black-backed jackal diet included small mammals (36.57%), invertebrates (24.23%) and medium mammals (16.84%) as main prey items in the protected area. Although invertebrates, particularly beetles, occurred frequently in jackal diet in the park compared to farmlands, the total biomass consumed is low compared to large prey items; in the national park steenbok (20.32%), rock hyrax (11.84%) and striped mouse (8.91%) incorporated the largest amount of biomass consumed. On farmlands, small mammals (42.82%), medium mammals (17.64%) and livestock (12.6%) were the three top prey classes consumed. However, sheep (25.17%), rock hyrax (13.33%) and duiker (8.39%) contributed the most to the total biomass consumed. Black-backed jackal showed some

T HE P EACE P ROJ ECT

FIGURE 6: Leopard (n=82), caracal (n=250) and black-backed jackal (n=196) scat collected in Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa. The corrected

T HE URBAN CARACAL P R OJ ECT

The Urban Caracal Project Dr Laurel Serieys

Exploring the effects of urbanization on Cape Town caracals: The Urban Caracal Project ignites national interest in key conservation topics.

the United States. This fact has led me to ask – how much can we generalize the findings of those studies, primarily conducted in affluent California, to areas in other parts of the world that have more important

Though lucky to see my data enact conservation, exactly the reason I worked so hard to collect all of the data, most urban wildlife research is conducted in

• Assess threats to survival for caracals in the Peninsula and potentially beyond to other parts of South Africa.

social struggles and omnipresent habitat destruction? PROJECT GOALS An overarching goal of the Urban Caracal Project is to establish baseline information about the Cape Peninsula caracal population, and being the first urban caracal study, there are a lot of ‘firsts’ that we are not only discovering, but also implementing. The population size and health is unknown, how the caracals move across the landscape and their diet completely unknown, and in addition there has never been a genetics study done on caracals! So we’ve set out to address the following objectives:

• Establish baseline information about the caracal population in the Cape Peninsula: population size, health of individuals, and the distribution of caracals across the Peninsula. • Evaluate the effects of urbanization on the behaviour, movement patterns, diet, and genetic health of caracals in the Peninsula.

A NN UAL R EP O RT 2 0 15

PROJECT INTRODUCTION I am a consummate conservation biologist driven by a lifelong dream to do on-the-ground wild cat research that contributes to conservation action. I also have a great sense of adventure, and it was these passions that led me to travel from the United States and launch the Urban Caracal Project with the support and assistance of The Cape Leopard Trust. Urbanization is the principal threat to global biodiversity conservation, and so this topic in particular has long captivated me as a conservationist and researcher. Before coming to South Africa, I led a successful bobcat project for my PhD, and collaborated on a successful puma study in Los Angeles, California, USA. Conservation biologists rarely have the opportunity to see their data used towards legislative changes, yet before finishing my PhD, I was fortunate to see my work contribute to marked conservation action in the United States. My bobcat data led to legislative action restricting consumer availability of some of the most toxic rat poisons on the market in California. Simultaneously, a puma genetics study I collaborated on has sparked a national movement to build a wildlife corridor to connect fragmented habitat in one of the most rapidly urbanizing region of the United States.

Experienced or not, however, the need to avoid our traps being found by park visitors is not a trivial

traps from the cats too! The necessity to hide traps

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS SO FAR? Within one month of fieldwork, we radio-collared our first 2 caracals, an adult male and an adult female, in the Front Table area. We have since captured 13 additional caracals on Table Mountain National Park, City of Cape Town land, and private properties. The cats have been caught in areas ranging from Silvermine (mid-Peninsula) north to Front Table and have included 5 adult males, 4 adult females, 3 juvenile males between 1-2 years, a 5 month old juvenile female, and most recently, 2 one month old kittens!

600

Radio-collared caracal movements have been impressive. Within a matter of months, we have observed adult males traverse up to 160 km2 of SAN Parks areas, City land, and private property. Females, on the other hand, not unlike other felid species, have much smaller home ranges, and adult females tend to use areas approximately 40 km2 in size. Animals move across the highly fragmented landscape, crossing roads, during day and night. They do not limit their movements to established, protected parklands, and have been seen to venture onto private property in residential areas. Yet, there are few complaints about caracals being seen by residents, revealing that they prefer to avoid detection. These early findings demonstrate that the maintenance of connectivity between land parcels of various ownerships within the larger Cape Peninsula area is critical to wildlife as the Peninsula continues to urbanize.

caracals. We are using two data

The radio-collars have thus far proved powerful tools to monitor fine-scale movement in the urban

potential prey remains. One of the most interesting

collection schedules: a) the radiocollars connect to satellites every 3 hours throughout the day to record GPS locations, and b) every 9th day

500

the collars connect with satellites

400 300 200 100

every 20 minutes to collect extremely fine-scale GPS location data for 36 hours. While we chose these data collection schedules to understand with greater detail how caracals may use remaining, fragmented landscape, and to identify potential movement corridors, to our surprise, the fine-scale data collection method has been key to investigating urban caracal diet. Using 20 minute GPS data, we are able to identify “clusters” of consecutive GPS points that fall within 50 meters of each other during a 3 to 48 hour period. We then visit the clusters to identify trends we have noted is that 40% of kill sites occur

Adults

2+ YEARS

within 100 meters of urban areas. Prey remains have largely included birds of various species (commonly Juveniles hadedas, guinea fowl, egrets, etc.), 0-2 YEARS including an endangered oystercatcher in Noordhoek, killed in sand dunes adjacent to the beach. We have also observed squirrels and vlei rats, genets, a dassie, and grysbok. These findings suggest that caracals may capitalize on prey species like guinea fowl, hadedas, and squirrels that thrive in disturbed habitat near the urban edge. In fact, it is their flexible diet that may enable their adaptability to rapid environmental change, and facilitate their ability to persist in rapidly urbanizing areas. Interestingly, the GPS locations for adult caracals are, on average, 3 times as far from roads as for our

A NN UAL R EP O RT 2 0 15

challenge, especially because not only must we avoid tourists and hikers, but we have discovered a strong homeless contingency scattered across the Peninsula. Furthermore, parts of Table Mountain National Park are notoriously dangerous, and with regularity, park visitors have been held at knife or gun-point and mugged, or worse, violently assaulted and murdered. We must therefore avoid working in some areas, particularly those near townships scattered across the Peninsula. We must find trapping locations hidden from hikers that stick to trails, but are also hidden from the homeless, and potential criminals, that might venture off-trail. It does feel sometimes that our need to be cautious also means we are hiding

means that we must wait with greater patience for cats to walk by traps, sometimes waiting for months for the brief second to lure a cat into a trap. Often locating “safe” areas to set traps means quite a walk in to the trap sites. For a 2 month period of time, during which I was the only person conducting the fieldwork, I hiked, on average, 20 km per day to manage the trap-line. And yet, we were still achieving great success!

(meters)

and receives 10 million visitors per year (more than 27 000 visitors per day), yet I successfully caught 7 bobcats within a matter of months.

Distance

URBAN WILDLIFE RESEARCH CAN PRESENT UNUSUAL CHALLENGES Working in urban areas presents numerous logistical challenges that few fail to consider. Wildlife are well-known to use human trails and jeep tracks, and countless times, I have been told by local biologists and park management that caracals only use established trails, so I was unlikely to capture them anywhere but on established human trails! However, my study area is Table Mountain National Park (220 km2) – a park that receives approximately 3 million visitors/year (more than 8,000 visitors/day). I am mandated, and self-implement, a standard safety rule that traps are only placed in areas hidden from human activity so they are unseen by the general public. This is primarily to ensure the safety of the captured animals. So, I am hard-pressed to try to capture caracals on trails! But I came to South Africa uniquely prepared to overcome this particular challenge. Los Angeles is the 16th largest city in the world, and one of my field sites there was only 17 km2

T HE URBAN CARACAL P R OJ ECT

For a 2 month period of time, during which I was the only person conducting the fieldwork , I hiked, on average, 20 km per day to manage the trap-line. And yet, we were still achieving great success!

Following the discovery of the unusual deaths, we are now testing all of our captured caracals for exposure to the most common type of rat poisons used worldwide– anticoagulant rodenticides. Our preliminary findings show that caracals and even genets may be chronically exposed to the poisons. These ubiquitous poisons may threaten the persistence of wildlife not only in the Peninsula, but also beyond. These data are particularly relevant in the urban setting, where vehicles and disease also threaten caracals. My bobcat study in Los Angeles revealed that bobcats were more than 7 times more likely to die of an ectoparasitic disease, mange, if they were exposed to these same rat poisons. Further, of five bobcats that died of vehicle collision that we tested, all were recently exposed to rat poisons! Pulling these observations together, it raises questions whether caracal exposure to these same poisons synergistically increases their vulnerability to deaths associated with other human activities? Deeper investigation is underway.

Moving forward, we are continuing to radio-collar individuals, moving south towards Cape Point, to examine caracal biology along a gradient of urban development. We are making great headway on a genetics study collaborating with the PEACE project and the Karoo Predator Project (managed by University of Cape Town PhD student, Marine Drouilly) to conduct the first-ever caracal genetic study, and on a large scale! I have extracted DNA from more than 70 caracals so far and have sent the DNA to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where genetic analysis is underway. Because this is the first genetics study (to my knowledge) performed on caracals, my first major stumbling block was to discover the genetic markers that would be compatible with caracal DNA, and thus allow us to collect data on the DNA sequences from each caracal tested! But mission accomplished! The lab work is underway and once data is in hand, we will be able to assess the genetic health of the highly isolated Cape Peninsula caracals. We will compare their genetic constitution with that of caracals in regions of the country with high degrees of genetic connectivity. In doing so, we will determine if the population isolation by the dense urban sea of Cape Town is leading to decreased genetic health in Cape Town caracals (which over the long-term will likely be one of the major threats to their population persistence in the isolated Peninsula). BIG SUCCESSES IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR! I mentioned a lot of “firsts” for this project. One of the most exciting “firsts” is that we are not only documenting caracal reproduction in the Cape

Peninsula, but we have also located and sampled one-month old kittens being tended by Hope, the 13th caracal we radio-collared. She was pregnant at the time of capture, and her radio-collar data revealed her denning location. We waited until she was denning for approximately one month before attempting to locate the kittens to collect genetic samples and body measurements, collect blood for health assessments, and to document the den site itself. We followed standard protocols implemented in research in other parts of the world, but to our knowledge, we are the first research group to collect these data and samples. One of our most remarkable successes, however, reaches beyond the research itself. We have garnered much community support and interest, with now approximately 3000 likes on our project Facebook page, and also demonstrated in the success of some of our posts! A recent post about Berg Wind’s death was viewed by more than 23 000 people. Jasper’s death also attracted a lot of attention, with my blog circulating numerous news sources. A post focused on the post-fire movements of Laduma, our first radio-collared caracal, was viewed by nearly 100 000 people! This attention shows that by studying charismatic wildlife, and sharing the results of the study regularly on social media platforms, that as researchers, we have the power to captivate large audiences and communicate messages that promote conservation on a local, regional, and even international scale. To learn more about our outreach efforts, visit urbancaracal.org and

Urbancaracal

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We have also identified other, more cryptic, threats to urban caracals. Most unusually, since April, we have documented 3 caracals, including one radiocollared caracal (Berg Wind, Table Mountain Caracal # 11), to die of either disease (possibly contracted from an encounter with a domestic dog or cat) or pesticide exposure. Interestingly, all 3 of these deaths that we have detected occurred in the same area – the Noordhoek wetlands. Caracals are frequently sighted around wetland areas, and our radio-collar

data suggests that wetlands may be favoured hunting ground. Importantly – it is very rare to document death of wildlife due to disease, particularly for elusive, rarely seen wild cats. Without having Berg Wind radio-collared, his body never would have been discovered as he died in thick vegetation on city property. The potential conservation value of the Urban Caracal Project is underscored with these types of discoveries. Only through our efforts to track these cats may we gather critical data to understand how city life poses threats in often unseen ways. These findings have raised the question for me as a researcher, as to whether human encroachment upon these areas, clearly resource abundant for wildlife, is leading to toxic feeding grounds for native wildlife?

T HE URBAN CARACAL P R OJ ECT

“ ...it is their flexible diet that may enable their adaptability to rapid environmental change, and facilitate their ability to persist in rapidly urbanizing areas.”

juvenile males. These data echo the findings of the urban puma study I worked on in Los Angeles. There, young male pumas bump against the urban edges in a highly isolated urban park as they explore areas to establish their own territories. We have noted at least two of our males cross the M3, one of the most congested, highly trafficked roads in all of South Africa. The M3 borders one edge of Table Mountain National Park, separating the natural area from a sea of urban development. Yet one of our young males, Jasper, regularly crossed the M3, including at daytime hours, during the brief time he was radio-collared… before he was finally hit by a car on the M3. The story of Jasper captivated Cape Town wildlife enthusiasts, and several news outlets, including Africa Geographic, picked up and republished a blog post I wrote about Jasper’s death. These data demonstrate the importance of wildlife corridors, particularly in areas where there is natural habitat that straddles busy, highly trafficked roads. Furthermore, in documenting unfortunate deaths such as Jasper’s, we contribute to the rapidly building pool of evidence that wildlife corridors, particularly across major roads and through dense urban areas, are critical to conserving wildlife populations in the increasingly urbanizing global landscape.

Hadley Lyners & Catherine Kühn

The Environmental Education project continues to grow its evolving Cape Town programme while consolidating the winning formula of the wilderness camps in the Cederberg at Matjiesriver Reserve in partnership with CapeNature.

CEDERBERG CAMPS The Cederberg is a magical place and it is with absolute confidence that we can say that each one of our participants has been touched in some way after

This year we continued to work on our carbon footprint by fixing a grey-water system at TokTokkie camp, which is now successfully fitted and in working order. Rika Du Plessis, Manager of the Matjiesriver Reserve, and her staff jumped into action to join us with the onerous task and we have really appreciated her assistance, not just with this particular challenge, but with the overall support from CapeNature over the course of the year. We give special thanks to our 2015 interns Ashley Ndulukane and Riëtte Koortzen both of whom did an incredible job in keeping the camp site running and assisting with activities. The Cederberg suffered a lightning-ignited fire in September. It started on the Uitkyk pass and the wind blew it steadily eastwards towards Driehoek. Our regular hiking places such as Eikeboom and

Welbedacht were affected as a result. The noticeable changes and scars on the landscape provided the perfect canvas to discuss relevant topics such as the role of fire in the fynbos, the dangers of runaway fires for wildlife, and the need for an official no-fire policy in the Cederberg. We were lucky enough to have not just one, but two leopards pass through our camp while participants were there. The shy leopards steered well clear of the human activity, but we heard them. To make things even more exciting, the camp camera secured two separate images of these enigmatic and mysterious animals. We have certainly experienced some amazing goose-bump moments! These experiences unique to our camps are incomparable to any other, and all made possible because we still have pristine places like the Cederberg in our backyard. The spectacular rock formations around TokTokkie camp set a magnificent stage around us. It is a constant reminder of the remarkable heritage of the area, and it is a privilege for us to be able to share this with young people and introduce it to future custodians of this beautiful country that we call home. IN AND AROUND CAPE TOWN The Cape Town Programme takes numerous groups of children on a variety of outings. Our

activities have explored caves, investigated some of the beautiful flowers found in the Cape, discussed the geology and introduced the history of the mountains. When climbing mountains, like any challenge in life, it is great to reach the top, and to feel the sense of achievement, excitement and awe at the first glimpse of the spectacular beauty stretching out into the distance. Those of you who have witnessed such wonder with any child will know what we are talking about. One of the things we love most about our work is to see the personal growth in the children, especially when it comes to caring, sharing and helping each other along when times get tough. For us it is evidence of a future generation that has the ability to make a difference in the lives of those around them. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS Eco-Clubs: This year we were fortunate to receive funding to establish a number of school eco-clubs. In addition, the funding facilitated the printing of a leopard jigsaw puzzle for distribution amongst deserving children, at schools, and as an awareness raising tool. The funds allowed us to offer 12 schools an opportunity to have 6 eco-club sessions, which include environmental awareness and outdoor excursions. Activities range from performing an environmental audit of the school, planting food gardens and hiking in Table Mountain National Park or at other landmark sites around the city.

Presentations, Outings and Holiday Programme: We managed to increase the number of presentations we offer schools, groups and organisations, and we continue to participate in partner NGO activities such as the Thrive Environmental Quiz. We were once again able to partner with Rock Girl SA for this year’s ten-day winter holiday programme. We also offered new and existing partners day trips themed according to the needs of the school or group. Art-Competition: This year we held a calendar art competition, this time with the theme “Predators of the Cape.” Our judges included conservationist and activist, Braam Malherbe, and Scott Ramsay, K-way ambassador and ‘Love Wild Africa’ photo-journalist. Anele Van der Merwe from competition sponsors Bridgestone, as well as our environmental educators, Catherine Kühn and Hadley Lyners, completed the judging panel. The process was fraught with lengthy deliberation, as over 350 entries were submitted and they were all stunning. We finally selected 14 winning artworks to be included in a special edition 2016 Cape Leopard Trust Calendar. We sincerely thank Bridgestone for their continued support, and for making a fully sponsored camp possible for the art competition winners. A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Special thanks to Rand Merchant Bank, Joan St

Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust and SA Mint for their donations in 2015. A heartfelt word of appreciation to Bridgestone and SupaQuick for always being there to ensure that we stay safe on the road.We also want to thank Cape Union Mart for keeping us and our participants well-equipped to be able to experience learning in the outdoors. A big thank you to Cascade Manor for providing us with sponsored office space and for facilitating our first annual trail-run event. A word of thanks to all the individuals who have donated at our presentations and to those who have volunteered their services in other ways to keep our programme going. Every bit helps, no matter how small! SPECIAL MENTION AND A TRIBUTE Last but not least, we would like to pay a special tribute to Elizabeth Martins, founder of The Cape Leopard Trust’s environmental education programme. We truly appreciate your dedication and commitment to the project, and to Quinton in his quest to save the Cape’s mountain leopards. We value your unique guidance and vision that has made the programme what it is today. The fact that there are bookings up to two years in advance is a testament of your legacy - to secure a future for conservation led environmental education. Our well wishes go with you wherever your new life journey takes you. Thank you Elizabeth!

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Raising awareness of the natural world is pivotal to conservation action, and in 2015 approximately 5000 children and young adults were introduced to interactive learning in the wild through our programme. Environmental educators, Hadley Lyners and Catherine Kühn, have a unique opportunity at their fingertips to nurture and shape future custodians of the Cape’s incredible biodiversity. This is a short summary of some of their progress this year.

spending time in its the vast wilderness. Experiences such as being visited by our two resident genets at night, and seeing the intricate details of a fynbos plant under the microscope can be life changing. The nearly five hundred children and young people who attended our residential camps are exposed to everything from identifying the spoor of a leopard to crawling through a cave in the dark, or discovering the old kill site of a caracal. Daily activities include animaltracking, creative writing, hiking and star gazing.

NATURE’S CLASSROOM - ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCTAION

Learning in the Wild

Cape Cryptic Carnivore

Elsa Bussière PhD student at the Animal Demography Unit University of Cape Town Elsa completed her MSc project with the Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University of Cape Town on statistical ecology, analyzing bird atlas data. She then went on to begin a PhD on brown hyenas in the Klein Karoo, which is an associate research project partnered with The Cape Leopard Trust.

2015 is likely to be the final year in the field for the Cape Cryptic Carnivore project, based in the Little Karoo, where the last remaining brown hyena population of the Western Cape Province can be found.

The last batch of photographs from the last camera trap session has not been processed yet, but the data collected so far show that the most photographed carnivores are: see graphic adjacent.

Leopards

57% OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

32% OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

746

Wild Cats 273

PHOTOS

55% OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

3 23%

PHOTOS

16%

44% OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

22% OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

PHOTOS

OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

PHOTOS

OF THE CAMERA TRAP STATIONS

Honey Badgers

262

Aardwolves

Caracals

Brown Hyenas 101

PHOTOS

HUMAN PERSECUTION At least one of the identified brown hyenas got caught in a gin trap, which was originally deployed by a private landowner in order to catch jackals and caracals. The animal was still alive in the morning and it was shot with a rifle. It is the only confirmed killing, even though we heard rumors of other captures on different farms. Due to the low number of individuals in the population, human persecution poses a real threat to the survival of the species in the region. COLLARING In September 2015, we deployed an Iridium satellite collar on a female brown hyena. She weighed 36kg and as we were about to deploy the collar, we noticed a deep wound on the neck, which is very common for brown hyenas. The wildlife veterinarian closed the wound with stitches before continuing with data collection and collar deployment. After one month of data collection, we could calculate her

CAPE CRYPTIC CARNIVORE STUDY SITE IN THE LITTLE KAROO

home range, which was roughly 300km². She covered at least 900km, sticking mostly to river beds, dry valleys and fence lines. The Cape Cryptic Carnivore Project is an associate research project, and as such limited logistical support is provided by The Cape Leopard Trust.

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CAMERA TRAPPING The camera trap survey was completed in August 2015. It took nearly a year and a half to survey 4900km² of rugged Karoo mountains, in the area of Touswriver, Lainsgburg, Barrydale and Montagu.

Jackals

C AP E C RY PTI C CARNI VOR E P R OJ ECT

Cape Cryptic Carnivore Project

Brown hyenas have black and white stripes on the legs, and every individual has a unique pattern, just like a finger print. Using this pattern we were able to identify 18 different individuals. Nine individuals were photographed in the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve which also has lions and cheetahs providing carrion. The other individuals were found on Anysberg Nature Reserve, small private nature reserves and farmland, where only Cape Mountain leopards, jackals and caracals could provide carrion. The brown hyenas that do not rely on lions and cheetahs to find food seem to have much larger territories. They might also hunt small animals to complement their diet. However, most of the collected scats were white and therefore rich in calcium, which is typical of scavengers eating a large amount of bones.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Back row - Ashwell Glasson, Chairperson Animal Demography Unit Academic Advisory Board (UCT), Anaia Dos Santos Hotel Verde, Bryan Havemann, Programme Manager The Cape Leopard Trust, Johan van der Westhuizen Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Cape Leopard Trust. Front row - Professor Les Underhill head of the ADU (UCT); Helen Turnbull, Chief Executive Officer, The Cape Leopard Trust.

Ashwell Glasson

It was with positive anticipation that on the last day of September the Animal Demography Unit (ADU) and The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) came together to establish a more formal working relationship, undertaking to work jointly on key conservation action areas, a major step for both organisations and an opportunity to reinforce the inherent strengths of both. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organisations as a way to ensure that scarce conservation resources are well-leveraged.

The Trust, long regarded as a pioneer in large predator monitoring and research in South Africa,

Our growing partnership will bear fruit in numerous ways. Firstly, in assessing Cape leopard populations, as well as providing information on current coexistence challenges such as human-wildlife conflict on livestock farming communities, illegal hunting with snares, trapping of leopards, mortality rates and the overall abundance of these highly cryptic and seldom seen leopards. Using dedicated analysis tools, both the ADU and CLT will identify the conservation needs of the species as well as the biodiversity upon which it depends, and commit collaborative projects to ensure the continued survival of the leopards into the future. Lastly, we fervently hope that we will be able to assist the Trust in communicating some of its best practice in predator monitoring, research and

conflict mitigation to a broader-base of stakeholders in South Africa and beyond. Best practice guidelines and standards in conservation biology of large predators is a critical priority, especially in areas of human wildlife conflict, investigating species demographics and in the training of conservation biology professionals. Next year, we will be in a position to report on the progress of the emerging CLT-ADU partnership. Well done to an exceptional team and organisation, for their tireless efforts to make a difference.

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As a recognised teaching and research unit at the University of Cape Town, the ADU views this partnership as ground-breaking, enabling a focus on real conservation outcomes for species under threat. The recent non-detriment findings brought to light the lack of information regarding South Africa’s leopard populations and the critical need for the expertise and value that the CLT brings to the conservation landscape, especially with declining public sector resources for foundational biodiversity conservation.

is providing critical research data regarding leopard population dynamics, and insights into what we all realise is a vastly different population of leopards to their savannah-based cousins. The Trust is also engaged in some key conflict reduction campaigns to reduce livestock predation by leopards and other species such as Black-backed Jackal and Caracal.

SAMARA LEOPARD | COURTESY OF LANA MÜLLER

Chair of the Animal Demography Unit (ADU)

“...both the ADU and C L T will identify the conservation needs of the species as well as the biodiversity upon which it depends, and commit collaborative projects to ensure the continued survival of the leopards into the future.”

T HE ANI M AL D EM OGRA P HY U NI T

Strength in NumbersFormalising Ties with the ADU

IMAGES COURTESY OF LOUISE DE WAAL, GREEN GIRLS IN AFRICA

The Cape Leopard Trust was privileged to be an associate charity for the 2015 ABSA Cape Epic, and saw the first dedicated CLT branded team participate in the event, kindly sponsored by our partners, Bridgestone.

The 2015 Fundraiser Guests and friends gathered at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards in Franschhoek on Saturday,15 August for the annual Cape Leopard Trust fundraiser luncheon to enjoy an afternoon of exquisite wine, wonderful food courtesy of three of Cape Town’s top chefs and entertainment from the award winning Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers, traditional Riel dancers from the Cederberg community of Wupperthal. The auction that followed raised R462 000 in support of the Trust.

T HE 2 01 5 F U ND RAI SER

THE ABSA CAPE EPIC & INAUGURAL LEOPARD TRAIL RUN

Out & About 2015 ABSA Cape Epic & the inaugural Cascade Cape Leopard Trail Run

On a sunny October Saturday in Paarl the Cape Leopard Trust launched its inaugural Trail Run across the spectacular Paarl countryside, with over 140 runners participating. The trail run was the inspiration of Maika and Volker Goetze at Cascade Country Manor, and activities manager Eckhardt Kühn, in partnership with Cape Union Mart. We extend a special thank you to them and all sponsors for their generosity and adventurous spirit!

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Dr Quinton Martins

37 SNOW LEOPARD | COURTESY OF STEVE WINTER / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Reinforcing the concept of using a high profile species for mountain ecosystem protection, the SLC has recently embarked on launching a mountain lion research and conservation project in California. Benefits from knowledge gained in mountain leopard and snow leopard habitat will be shared here in the USA where community outreach and a stewardship approach to ecosystem conservation is much needed. We hope that our experiences abroad will help us engage with people here, connecting them to the amazing wilderness right on their doorstep, while providing insight into environmental challenges faced across the world. Though this project is much bigger than where I began my personal journey with mountain cats and The Cape Leopard Trust, those humble beginnings provide an incredible foundation to work from, and now I have the amazing opportunity and privilege to use that experience in a global context.

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Snow leopards are the ‘Holy Grail’ of all the cats - an iconic mountain species spanning 12 countries and covering over 1000 000 km2 of the world’s highest mountain habitat in central Asia. Ecological needs of snow leopards – such as habitat integrity and then necessary creation of large protected areas – therefore provide added value to us through their conservation. Ecosystem services, water

provision and climate vulnerability are just some of the key concerns highlighted through our work on this species.

MOUNTAIN LION | COURTESY OF WWW.7-THEMES.COM

“What made you want to study Cape mountain leopards?” is a question I had often been asked while working on this enigmatic cat in the Cederberg for 11 years. It was the wildness and remoteness of these spectacular mountains that drew me in. That leopards still inhabited the area reinforced how wild it was. Over the years I have participated in numerous projects on mountain cats elsewhere in the world, finally coming to work with the Snow Leopard Conservancy based in California. Their mission is: ensuring snow leopard survival and conserving mountain landscapes by expanding environmental awareness and sharing innovative practices through community stewardship and partnerships.

QUINTO N M ARTI NS

“ Benefits from knowledge gained in mountain leopard and snow leopard habitat will be shared here in the USA where community outreach and a stewardship approach to ecosystem conservation is much needed.”

Highland Conservation using Mountain Cats

VET S O N THE F RONTL I NE

Bruce has supported the Cape Leopard Trust for many years, but most notable has been his involvement with the Namaqualand PEACE Project in 2015, when he spent endless weeks on site assisting the researchers, while at the same time being on call for the Urban Caracal Project for caracal captures and collaring. Bruce is a true professional and a dedicated veterinarian. It is because of individuals such as Bruce that The Cape Leopard Trust is able to achieve meaningful results.

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On completion of two years of National Service as a Veterinary Officer, Bruce embarked on a varied career gaining valuable experience at numerous practices attending to horses, farm animals and domestic pets in Bulawayo, Randburg, Howick, Krugersdorp and further afield in the UK before eventually settling in Hout Bay in 1996, where he established a small animal practice. Deciding it was time to work less onerous hours and pursue other interests, Bruce sold his practice in 2013. This was our good fortune and allowed Bruce the opportunity to assist with our projects in Namaqualand and Cape Town, combining his passions for animals and the natural world. Since his school days Bruce had been a keen distance runner, but a knee injury resulted in him taking up new hobbies of cycling and photography. He agreed to share some of his favourite images with us.

This is a tribute to all the veterinarians that over the years have contributed to our project, acknowledging the vital role they have played and continue to play in enabling wildlife conservation. Thank you.

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Dr Bruce Stevens is a semi-retired veterinarian working for a number of practices in the Cape Town area. The son of a livestock auctioneer and a butcher, his upbringing was closely linked to animals and their welfare. After matriculating from Kingswood College in Grahamstown, his natural choice was to become a veterinarian. He completed his veterinary degree at the University of Pretoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Onderstepoort campus in 1977.

SILVERMINE | COURTESY OF BRUCE STEVENS

VET S O N THE F RONTL I NE

Vets on the Frontline Dr Bruce Stevens

The scenic village of Wupperthal is nestled in a

remote valley of the rugged Cederberg mountains.

Accessible by gravel road over the Pakhuis Pass, Wupperthal lies 72km southeast of Clanwilliam, and 250km from Cape Town. Most families in Wupperthal make a living from small-scale agriculture, livestock and rooibos tea, and are heavily reliant on donkeys as service animals. In Spring when the barren mountains are transformed by a riot of indigenous flowers, tourists enjoy the popular donkey-cart rides that hark back to a gentler era. Eighteen months ago when EnviroVet CVC conducted their first domestic pet sterilisation outreach in Wupperthal with the assistance of funding from The Cape Leopard Trust and ABAX Foundation, the team was asked if they could help with the castration of donkeys to curb problems with aggressive behaviour and to limit environmental destruction, including water pollution. This is the story of their latest interaction with Wupperthal, as told by CVC veterinarian Dr Annelize Roos:

The community takes real pride in their working donkeys, and we encountered animals boasting impressive names such as ‘Senter’, ‘Bradford’ and ‘Vlagskip’! One thing we know for sure is that it can’t be said that people here do not love their animals. The reverse in most cases is true, and owners look after their animals very well within their limited means. We normally work with cats and dogs, so it was a new and amazing experience for the ‘EnviroVet’ team. As a result we learned a lot about these adorable woolly creatures, described since Biblical times as patient, stubborn, intelligent, reliable, humorous, docile, feisty, affectionate and enigmatic!

41 Our task was to work with the feisty ones; the uncastrated males that fight each other aggressively, biting ears, noses, tails, even testicles, causing painful and sometimes serious injuries. Surgical castration is the only way to reduce the level of hormones that cause the aggressive tendencies brought on by high levels of testosterone. While we had the opportunity we also returned to some of the communities where we successfully sterilised domestic and feral pets last year. We were welcomed with open arms and wagging tails, and found all of the animals in peak condition! As there were few animals needing sterilisations, we had time available to dip a good number of the pets. This is vital as many die each year from tick fever. We handed out de-worming medication, as well

as basic veterinary advice and education where it was needed. EnviroVet CVC is proud to report that in the Wupperthal area we have now sterilised a total of 370 animals excluding the donkeys, which will be our future focus and on-going concern. The intervention will not only benefit the community, but also prevent unnecessary hardship and suffering to the animals due to behavioural problems and uncontrolled breeding. We look forward to the next outreach in this beautiful area with its equally fascinating people and their furry creatures. Though at times challenging, it is never without joy, gratitude and the satisfaction of a job well done, thanks to the support of The Cape Leopard Trust and its partners.

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Owners are heavily invested in the welfare of their donkeys, first and foremost as a mode of transport, and second as a conduit to facilitate potential work opportunities, creating economic sustainability. Before the intervention of EnviroVet CVC, the community had no access to veterinary services of any kind, and in an effort to control the behaviour of their male donkeys, some made amateur attempts at castration often with tragic consequences, not

This year we were able to launch a pilot project to treat 20 of the approximately 300 donkeys (including the ferals) in the Wupperthal area. The community was sensitively informed that amateur castrations must cease with immediate effect (it is a punishable offence that could result in punitive interventions by animal welfare authorities). A promise was made that ‘EnviroVet CVC’ would return to continue with the castrations as and when more resources become available.

“ The community takes real pride in their working donkeys, and we encountered animals boasting impressive names such as ‘Senter’, ‘ Bradford’ and ‘Vlagskip’!”

W UP P ERTAHL COM M U NI TY D ONKEY STER I L I ZATI ON

A Donkey’s Tale: EnviroVet CVC Castration of Donkeys in the Wupperthal area. 3-5 November 2015.

to mention unspeakable distress for the animals. Despite this these males retained high levels of testosterone and the aggression continued, even though fertility was now somewhat compromised. These donkeys are known in the community as ‘klophingste’, not just suffering infertility, but also requiring beatings to keep them in line. A terrible thought when one considers what these poor animals had endured, some even dying from botched ‘procedures’.

PENNY MÖLLER, AGE 12 YEARS. TITLE: FOCUS

The Cape Leopard Trust Registration Number IT2720/2004

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

2015

2014

Revenue Cost of Sales Other Income Operating Expenses

R 3 868 445.00 R 25 464.00 R 5 262.00 R 3 421 761.00

R 3 426 694.00 R - R - R 2 589 460.00

OPERATING SURPLUS Investment Revenue

R 426 482.00 R 44 126.00

R 837 234.00 R 21 344.00

Surplus for the Year

ASSETS Non-Current Assets (Property, Equipment) Current Assets (Inventories) Current Assets (Trade & Other Receivables) Current Assets (Prepayments) Current Assets (Cash & Cash Equivalents)

R 763 168.00 R 42 130.00 R 13 707.00 R 127 396.00 R 2 132 588.00

R 850 162.00 R - R 26 474.00 R - R 1 705 701.00

Total Assets R 3 078 989.00

R 2 582 337.00

EQUITY Trust Capital Accumulated Surplus

R 200.00 R 3 039 434.00

R 200.00 R 2 568 823.00

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities (Trade & Other Payments)

Total Equity & Liabilities

R 3 078 989.00

470 608.00

39 355.00

Balance at 01 March 2014 Balance at 01 March 2015 R 3 039 634.00

ANNUAL F I NANCI AL STATEM ENTS

ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2015

858 578.00

13 314.00

R 2 582 337.00 R 2 569 023.00

R 1 705 701.00 R 2 132 588.00

R 1 076 291.00 R 1 705 701.00

Donations of R100 000 & Above

R 334 0599 .00

R 269 8514.00

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CASH FLOW 2014/2015 Cash at Beginning of Year Cash at End of Year

M AP

A SP EC IAL THANKS

A Special Thank You

Namaqualand THE CAPE LEOPARD TRUST

NORTHERN CAPE

On a perfect Cape Town evening as November drew to a close, we celebrated the end of a busy year at a dedicated sponsors appreciation cocktail function event in the company of friends and partners at the kiosk viewing deck, Table Mountain. It was a great way to mark the end of 2015, and share it with the mountain as one of the official ‘7 Wonders of Nature’, paying tribute to those who make our work possible!

STUDY AREAS

Atlantic Ocean

The evening was kindly sponsored by Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company.

Cederberg

WESTERN CAPE

N W

Boland

Gouritz Biodiversity Corridor

Table Mountain National Park

Cape Leopard Trust Study Areas

National Roads

100

150 km

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Indian Ocean

SP O NSORS

Sponsors & Partners

FATIMA KARJIEKER, AGE 12 YEARS TITLE: ‘LEOPARD ON A LOG’

THE CAPE LEOPARD TRUST

Copyright © The Cape Leopard Trust 2016 This publication may be made available in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.

POSTAL ADDRESS P.O. Box 31139

Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust

Tokai 7966 Cape Town

PHYSICAL ADDRESS 2 Capstan Close Marine da Gama 7945 Cape Town

The Cape Leopard Trust would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this as a source. No part of this publication may be made available for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever.

PHONE 023 004 0022 FAX2EMAIL 086 543 1370

MOBILE +27 76 522 1201 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

CTPprinters

CAPE TOWN

LISA LOSKEN DESIGN CONSULTING

Johan van der Westhuizen Dr Ian McCallum Prof Bill Horsnell David Knott Brendhan Kannemeyer Jannie Nieuwoudt

(Chair)

Prof Bill Horsnell (Chair) (UCT) Prof Les Underhill (ADU) (UCT) Dr Alison Leslie (SUN) Dr Jacqui Bishop (UCT) Dr Steve Compton (RU) Dr Dan Parker (RU)

The Cape Leopard Trust 2015 Annual Report was printed on Cyclus Offset. 100% recycled, uncoated paper and 100% environmentally friendly - no harmful chemicals used in production (TCF). DESIGNED BY LISA LOSKEN DESIGN PRINTING COURTESY OF CTP PRINTERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE WINTER, FEATURED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC