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An apex predator in the rugged Western Cape region of South Africa, the little researched and undeservedly vilified Cape leopard is an “umbrella species” whose conservation effectively helps to preserve smaller, lower profile predators.

Long believed to be a robustly populated species that routinely preyed upon local livestock, Cape Leopard Trust’s research revealed that this wide ranging species was routinely removed with little or no consideration to the impact on its ecosystem.

Cape Leopard Trust is championing the cause of predator preservation – a lean yet dynamic, impactful organization that has implemented conservation strategies, research projects and tourism initiatives including environmental education program.

The grade 4 – 6 children of Dwarsrivier Primêr were ready and waiting on the 7th May. On our previous outing, we’d taken a walk from the school up the valley and had paid special attention to the ‘suikerbekkies’ - sugarbirds and sunbirds. The children had noticed how these birds were always found on the ‘suikerbossies’ (a type of protea that stands quite tall, with flowers filled with sweet nectar).

We have been vainly hoping to download GPS collar data from ‘Lizzy’, the female leopard (F5). Lizzy lives in the most inaccessible region of all the collared leopards in the Cederberg. When she was first collared, her home range was accessible, but she has since shifted her range into an extremely rugged part of the eastern Cederberg. Despite checking for the signal daily, there has been no sign of her. Furthermore, her collar was not functioning properly, so that when we were able to communicate with it, we struggled to get a GPS download.

Quinton in the last throes of writing his PHD 
Need one say more?

Quinton aims to submit his PHD in August, after which, he promises, he will reply more promptly to emails!

Report by Elizabeth Martins

Three months since its inception and what is happening with the Education Project? Much of the groundwork has now been done in order to ensure that the Education and Outreach Programme has a solid foundation with the correct legal and safety measures in place.

We now have satellite phones, first aid certificates, public driver’s permits, indemnity forms, indemnity forms, indemnity forms... A very special thank you goes to Sharon McCallum and Jean Badenhorst for dedicating so much time and effort in putting together appropriate indemnity forms in both English and Afrikaans. I am sincerely grateful.  Sharon has also spent a considerable time acting as our “Legal Beagle” sorting out Trust issues and many more. Thank You Sharon!

Report by Ben-Jon Dreyer

Looking back a year, the CLT had just started exploring the massive Namaqualand granite outcrops for possible signs of leopard in this harsh, arid environment.  Uncertain of what we would discover we stepped out into this wilderness, relying on experiences from our other study areas, luck and ‘Koringkriek’ (our trustworthy Toyota) not to let us down.

Report by Leigh Potter

Leopards of Ladismith

We have had some amazing leopard photographs since putting up cameras on the Ladismith side of the Rooiberg Mountain.

At 9am on Saturday 21st March, the staff of the Cape Leopard Trust was met with an unusual sight in the Cederberg – a 60-seater bus. Our camp group from the Kouebokkeveld Training Centre had arrived. The group consisted of 17 students, 5 women and 12 men, ranging in age from 27 – 48 years with their two supervisors, Jacob Coetzee and Archie von Biljoen. The students, Archie told us, were farm workers, specially selected from commercial farms to take part in their agriculture course, based on their leadership potential. Many of them were already in managerial roles.

This was an important weekend, both in terms of the effect of the experience on the group, and of the potential for the Cape Leopard Trust to find a way to influence farming practices which lack a sense for the importance of maintaining a balanced eco system.

 Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre Photos 316.10 Kb

(see English translation below)

Ek het begin op die 6 Febuarie 2006 vir die CLT te werk. Die eerste dag het ek en Quinton 5h:00 vertrek om een van die luiperds op te spoor. Houdini was die luiperd se naam omdat hy self die hok oop gemaak het en ontsnap. Vir my was dit moeilik om luiperd op te spoor vir die eerste dag. Daarna het ons die cameras gaan sien wat in die veld op gestel is. Ek het besluit om dié werk te los. Maar ek het gedink om die geleentheid met al twee hande te gryp. Na drie maande het Quinton gesê dat ek voltyds vir die projek kan werk.

The Cape Leopard Trust’s Education and Outreach Programme officially began in January 2009. Elizabeth Martins (neé Bond) is co-ordinating the programme. “This is the beginning of a very exciting programme, with endless possibilities”, says Elizabeth. This Programme is primarily aimed at children, providing them with quality experiences that teach them more about the wilderness and themselves. Outlined below are the main thrusts of the Programme.