High tech aids Western Cape Leopard Research Project, 01 July 2010
The movements of Oom Pep, a majestic leopard named after a local man who lived and worked in the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, close to Oudshoorn, together with 25 other ‘big cats’ will now be closely monitored.
This follows last week’s fitting of GPS radio collars by researchers of the Cape Leopard Trust and CapeNature on the first of at least six male and six female leopards planned over the three year study period. “The collars will be used in conjunction with cameras that were installed late in 2007 to monitor the movements of leopards in the Gamkaberg and Swartberg Nature Reserves” says Tom Barry, Conservation Manager at Gamkaberg Nature Reserve. CapeNature’s rangers have frequently spotted the ‘not so camera shy’ Oom Pep on the cameras and named him after a local man who loved taking long walks in Tierkloof. Leopards are at the top end of the food chain, and an indicator of the state of the ecosystem in which they live. “The camera traps have so far photographed 25 different leopards in an15000 square kilometres, although it is difficult to say exactly what the leopard population of the area is” said Cape Leopard Trust researcher Aneri Vlok. “With the GPS data gathered by the radio-collars we will be able to improve our understanding of their ecology and use of habitat” The majority of landowners appear to be enthusiastic about the ongoing leopard research. Vlok confirmed that the incidents of leopard predation on livestock are fairly rare in the area. The Cape Leopard Trust and CapeNature continuously work with farmers to further reduce stock losses and promote predator-friendly farming methods. Gareth Mann, a PhD student at Rhodes University, currently conducting this research ISSUED BY:
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