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The Cape Leopard Trust’s Gouritz project team recently obtained data from the first leopard to be collared in the area, a young adult male named Zak. Zak’s capture was something of an unexpected bonus, as he appeared in a cage over 20km away from where he had been previously photographed, in an area where we were attempting to capture another male leopard. Since his capture, Zak’s movements have been monitored using a tracking collar, providing valuable insight into the behaviour of leopards in the Gouritz area.

The two CLT Boland Project researchers are now fortunate enough to live right in the heart of the Boland mountains. After all the hassles of moving house, Anita & Jeannie are settling into their quaint cottage on La Motte Wine Estate, near Franschhoek. This is made possible by a very generous accommodation sponsorship from Leopard’s Leap Wines. Being based so close to the study area of course means a tremendous saving in travelling time and costs, and old Biltong (the project’s trusty Hilux) is appreciating the rest!

The DCM Cape Pioneer Trek presented by KHS have just pledged their support for the Cape Leopard Trust which will bring a valuable contribution to the Trust, and at the same time expose riders to the trails on which these magnificent animals tread. The Cape Leopard Trust will receive an annual cash sponsorship from the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek to fund research of the elusive Cape mountain leopard in the Gouritz Corridor.

Only a month after placing a camera in an as yet unmonitored area the first photograph of a new leopard was captured at Hartebeesvlakte. This illustrates the importance of the involvement of private landowners, both in terms of allowing us to work on their properties and also purchasing additional camera traps. This allows us to work over a broader area and gather more information, not only on the local leopards, but also on the general mammal biodiversity of the area. We would like to thank all those people who have allowed us to work on their land; your ongoing support has greatly enriched this project, and we really appreciate it!

South African writer, Sarah Lotz, is about to release her new novel, ‘Tooth and Nailed’, a gripping legal drama set in Cape Town. Through one of the cases in the story she highlights the disturbing changes in animal behaviour in Southern African game reserves due to irresponsible behaviour by tourists.

We are very pleased to report that our Limietberg survey is now officially underway! This is the first of three sub-surveys forming the CLT Boland Project. Forty-six camera stations (totaling 70 cameras) are currently deployed across the Limietberg Nature Reserve, surrounding mountain catchment areas and neighbouring private land.

Study leads to first monitoring of newborn leopard cubs in the Cape mountains

After 7 years of dedicated research and monitoring, a leopard den site, with twin cubs, was located in a remote outcrop high in the Cederberg Mountains. This discovery is hugely significant, allowing, for the first time, researchers to document the maternal behavior of leopards in the Cape fold mountains. Insights from this work will hopefully lead to a more detailed understanding of the reproductive ecology and habits of leopards in the Cederberg representing an exciting new chapter in the work of the Cape Leopard Trust.

Some time ago, we obtained this beautiful photograph from a camera station near the Wemmershoek dam.

Looking closely at the picture, one can just see the end of another tail in the background, and we surmised that it might be a mother with a cub…

Over the past two years, the CLT have received considerable support from the Douglas Lederle Memorial Fund – a trust fund established in memory of Douglas Lederle (1971 – 2008). Douglas had been involved with the CLT since its inception and had a great passion for conservation, and this passion now lives on through this memorial fund.