Exciting conservation news was made in the Cederberg this weekend when the first female leopard to be captured and collared on the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, aptly named Amber, was found in a walk-through cage trap on the reserve, in the early hours of Spring Day, Saturday 1 September.
Amber weighs in at 18kg and is estimated to be about five years old. She is the eighth leopard in the Cederberg area to be fitted with a Global Positioning Satellite system (GPS) collar and only the second to be collared on Bushmans Kloof. This follows just on one year after the collaring of ‘Kooitjie’ the first male leopard to be collared on the reserve in August 2006.
The cage trap was placed on the reserve by the Cape Leopard Trust, an initiative dedicated to protecting this endangered species. The aim of the project is to obtain valuable data, via GPS collaring, to aid research of the behaviour of this elusive and enigmatic species, and allow The Cape Leopard Trust to determine the home range and behaviour of leopards (Panthera pardus) in the Cederberg (Western Cape).
Bushmans Kloof is a major sponsor of this vital conservation management project initiated in 2005 by Quinton Martins, Project Manager and Researcher of The Cape Leopard Trust. Since the inception of the project, Bushmans Kloof has sponsored six colours (two collars per annum), at R30 000 per collar.
Both Martins and veterinary surgeon Dr André van der Merwe were immediately radioed to assist with the procedure of sedating and collaring Amber, before releasing her into the wilds.
The Cape Mountain leopard is protected within the Cederberg Wilderness area, and Bushmans Kloof, located within the buffer zone, provides a further sanctuary of 7500 hectares to the Cape Mountain leopard population.
Says Reserve Manager Aneri Vlok: ‘The preservation of the leopard is of prime concern within this region. Although it is not easy to estimate their exact numbers, according to research the remaining leopard population is very limited, and therefore needs to be protected within the Cederberg Wilderness area. We at Bushmans Kloof are proud to assist in the protection of these special animals that greatly add to the mystique of this beautiful region.’
Bushmans Kloof, a SA Natural Heritage site, is passionately dedicated to the preservation and protection of indigenous wildlife and is already custodian to numerous rare or endangered species of birds and mammals, including the largest privately owned herd of the Cape Mountain zebra, the Cape clawless otter and the Clanwilliam yellow fish.
The owners of Bushmans Kloof recognize the importance of bringing support and attention to the quandary of endangered predators and protecting the leopard - the apex predator in the Western Cape.
More information about the GPS collar
The use of GPS collars enables The Cape Leopard Trust to view or follow leopards on a more regular basis in order to acquire valuable information on their reproductive and social behaviour, and feeding ecology. This will further assist in achieving a better understanding of their general ecology, and contribute significantly to future conservation management strategies.
This particular GPS collar is equipped with VHF (very high frequency) & UHF (ultra high frequency) and remote data download capabilities. By using a small handheld terminal, it allows one to access and download the GPS positions (fixes) at any time either from the ground (up to 3km) or from the air (up to 40km). This information will therefore be made available via the Internet.
The GPS unit stores the positions while the other components of the collar are integrated for transferring and downloading this data.
The equipment provides very accurate information on the exact location of a leopard at least 4-6 times every day for approximately two years (depending on battery life). It will also give an indication of temperature, altitude, and motion sensor, mortality sensor and will have a pre-programmed ’drop-off’ device that will allow those driving the project to collect the collar when they wish – enabling them to re-use it again without having to try to recapture the animal.
For further information about the GPS collar or The Cape Leopard Trust please contact Quinton Martins on (073) 241 4513 or email capeleopard@hixnet.co.za
** Photos available in JPEG format, on request.
Issued by FIVESTAR PR
Janie van der Spuy:
Tel + 27 (21) 462-1677
Fax + 27 (21) 462-1676
Mobile: + 27 (0) 83-324-5558
Janie@fivestarpr.co.za
www.fivestarpr.co.za
On behalf of Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat:
Jill Wagner
Marketing and Sales Manager
Tel + 27 (21) 685-2598
Fax + 27 (21) 685-5210
jill@bushmanskloof.co.za
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