Frequently Asked Questions

In this FAQ:

About leopards:

  1. Is it correct to refer to ‘Cape leopards’? Are they a different subspecies?
  2. How many leopards are there in the Cape region?
  3. Should people be afraid of leopards in the Cape region? What should you do if you encounter one?
  4. Why do leopards sometimes kill many heads of livestock at once?
  5. When leopards kill livestock in farming areas, is it an effective solution to simply capture and move them to a different area?
  6. Are there still any leopards on the Cape Peninsula (Cape Town and surrounds)? Why can’t they be re-introduced?

About the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT):

  1. Some people feel that the presence of leopards in an area should be kept a secret and that camera trap photos and sightings should not be shared in order to protect the animals. What is the Cape Leopard Trust’s response?
  2. Does the CLT offer volunteering or internship opportunities?
  3. How can the general public help the Cape Leopard Trust and leopards?
  4. How can camera traps that belong to private landowners help the CLT and contribute to leopard conservation?
  5. How does information collected by the Cape Leopard Trust help leopard conservation in South Africa?
  6. Does the CLT have any leopards collared currently? When / where will you collar leopards next?
  7. What is the Cape Leopard Trust’s stance on gin traps?

About leopards:

1. Is it correct to refer to ‘Cape leopards’? Are they a different subspecies?

Leopards occur all along the mountainous fynbos regions of the Cape Fold Belt in the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape. These leopards of the Cape are physically smaller and weigh less than their savannah cousins. They occur at much lower densities and have much larger home ranges than leopards elsewhere in South Africa. Because of these differences, people often refer to them as ‘Cape leopards’ or ‘Cape mountain leopards’, but these are confusing terms and not scientifically accurate. While a quick Google search and AI overview might come up with some sources claiming that the ‘Cape leopard’ is a distinct sub-type, this is incorrect information.

Currently, all leopards in the whole of Africa belong to the same subspecies – Panthera pardus pardus. The leopard population in South Africa consists of several groups that are geographically isolated from each other. There are slight genetic differences between these groups, but not enough to classify them as different subspecies. Each geographical group is managed as a separate unit, and leopards should not be translocated to or from discontinuous geographical areas.

So although leopards in the Cape region are physically separated from other groups in South Africa and have some distinctive characteristics, they are still African leopards. For better clarity and to avoid confusion, we rather use the term ‘leopards of the Cape’ to describe this unique population.

2. How many leopards are there in the Cape region?

Leopards in the Cape region are exceedingly elusive and roam across enormous home ranges, and it is impossible to count them all and provide a completely accurate answer. There is, however, a much more valuable measure from a conservation perspective, and that is population density. Population density is expressed as the number of animals per set area size, in this case leopards per 100 square kilometres. This measure allows comparison between different populations in different areas – it is standardised and universal, so you’re always comparing apples to apples. Monitoring changes in population density over time provides the most accurate and reliable guide to the leopard’s conservation status – thus whether the various sub-populations of leopards in the Cape are stable, increasing or decreasing over time.

Estimating the total number of animals in a population (in other words, extrapolating the total abundance from an estimated density) needs careful interpretation because it all depends on other subjective measures such as the exact area size, the buffer area around your population, and the degree of certainty you have in the original density estimate.

The Cape Leopard Trust’s research indicates that leopards in the Cape region occur at comparatively low population densities – fewer than 2 leopards / 100 km2 (as low as 0.64 leopards / km2 in some areas) (see references at the end of this FAQ). To put that into perspective, in protected areas in the savannah regions where the habitat is ideal and prey is plentiful, leopard population density can be up to 12 leopards / 100 km2.

3. Should people be afraid of leopards in the Cape region? What should you do if you encounter one?

We are often asked whether leopards in the Cape region are dangerous and a threat to people. Although one should obviously always be very cautious when encountering any predator, leopards here are generally extremely wary of people and will readily retreat – except when threatened or cornered. Leopard sightings are rare and usually very brief – the leopard appears as if from nowhere, stands still for a few seconds, and then disappears into the fynbos once more.

Leopards of the Cape are smaller than their bushveld counterparts and we are not aware of any unprovoked attacks on humans in this area. However, despite their smaller size they are still capable of inflicting significant harm – particularly a trapped or injured individual, or a female protecting her cubs – so it is always better to err on the side of caution.

If you do encounter a leopard, the best reaction is to stay calm, stand very still and wait for the cat to move on. Do not run away or crouch down. If for some reason it does not back away and seems threatening, then a slow retreat without turning your back is the wisest thing to do. Mostly, this sort of antagonistic behaviour is indicative of the cat trying to tell you to move away (it may be a female with cubs nearby), so don't linger and challenge it. Throwing sticks or stones is not advisable unless in final self-defence, as this act in itself may provoke an attack.

In short, hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers need not avoid the Cape mountains where leopards are present. If you encounter a leopard or its signs, you should consider yourself extremely fortunate – savour the moment, take a picture (if it is safe to do so!), and send us the details of your sighting – read HERE for more info!

4. Why do leopards sometimes kill many heads of livestock at once?

It is a natural behaviour that is quite common. From time to time, many predators display what is called surplus killing, in which they kill more prey than they can immediately eat and then abandon the remainder. Think of the damage a genet can do in a chicken coop. It usually happens when the prey can't escape (in a kraal or small camp), or when the prey is domesticated and ‘tame’ and do not run away or scatter like the predator's natural prey would do. The theory is that the predator's senses are overwhelmed by the large number of easily accessible prey around it, and its instinct is then to catch as much as possible in this moment of abundance.

Sometimes, however, leopards are wrongly blamed, since caracals can also be responsible for surplus killing, as can domestic and feral dogs. In fact, dogs kill much more livestock than most people realise, and can cause significant damage to livestock farmers.

5. When leopards kill livestock in farming areas, is it an effective solution to simply capture and move them to a different area?

Translocation is a management tool whereby an animal is moved from one site to another. This approach is sometimes used to manage leopards in South Africa, but requires careful consideration of each specific situation, including risk assessments, resources, suitable release sites, and long-term monitoring. Translocation is a challenging process. While some translocations can be justified, this is generally not a suitable or sustainable solution to manage conflict between leopards and farmers.

Leopards are territorial animals that defend their home ranges against neighbouring individuals. Leopard territories fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and where there is suitable habitat, every hectare will be utilised by one leopard or another. When a leopard is removed from an area it essentially creates a gap for a new individual to move in to – potentially exacerbating the farmer’s original problem. Translocations can also have negative knock-on effects in the area where a leopard is moved to – the introduced cat may fight with the resident leopard, which may result in the death of one or both cats; and an introduced male will also kill any cubs he comes across as they will not be his own. Often the translocated leopard will simply make its way back to its original home range, sometimes travelling long distances over unsafe terrain to get back to where it came from.

The Cape Leopard Trust supports farmers with holistic approaches to managing livestock and employing non-lethal deterrents to prevent predation by leopards and other predators. For more information on these options, see our Landowner’s Guide to Human-Wildlife Conflict.

6. Are there still any leopards on the Cape Peninsula (Cape Town and surrounds)? Why can’t they be re-introduced?

Although leopards used to occur in the Table Mountain chain, they were heavily persecuted and are believed to have disappeared from the Peninsula by the late 1800s. Today, the Cape Peninsula is completely isolated from other leopard populations due to urban sprawl. Without any natural immigration of new individuals, a sustainable population cannot be maintained. Furthermore, leopards in the Cape region utilise massive home ranges and need huge tracts of contiguous suitable habitat – the Peninsula is severely fragmented and simply too small to sustain a viable leopard population. Finally, leopards roam very widely and are not kept in or out by normal fences. The City of Cape Town and its suburbs sprawl high onto the slopes of the Table Mountain chain, and conflict with leopards will be a very real and dangerous possibility.

Caracals, on the other hand, still survive on the Cape Peninsula, and this is possible only because caracals and leopards have very different habitat and diet requirements. Caracals are physically much smaller than leopards and can sustain itself on much smaller prey; they maintain much smaller home ranges, and can adapt to much more urban environments. Even so, these urban caracals face many threats such as road collisions, snares and rat poisons.

About the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT):

a. Some people feel that the presence of leopards in an area should be kept a secret and that camera trap photos and sightings should not be shared in order to protect the animals. What is the Cape Leopard Trust’s response?

We never share the exact location of a camera trap photo or sighting. We always wait some time before posting and are quite vague about the area. Leopards are a Vulnerable and Protected Species, so it is prudent to obscure presence points. Leopards in the Cape are exceptionally elusive, and spotting one in the wild is a comparatively rare occurrence. Additionally, leopards here patrol huge home ranges and will generally not stay in the same area for very long. We don't believe that sharing an ephemeral leopard sighting or camera trap photo from a non-specific area will significantly increase the risk of that leopard being found and killed by a person. But we do believe that raising positive attention and awareness among the public is very valuable in boosting conservation efforts – people should realise that there are in fact wild leopards in the mountains of the Cape region, and that they need our help in protecting them against threats like illegal hunting with snares, conflict with stock farmers and getting hit by vehicles while crossing mountain passes. If no one knows they are here, then no one will care. Leopards are the last remaining free-roaming apex predator in the Cape and it is vital to ensure that they can persist and contribute towards healthy ecosystems.

b. Does the CLT offer volunteering or internship opportunities?

We do not offer a structured volunteering programme, and opportunities for once-off ad hoc volunteering are limited. In order to capacitate and develop local conservationists, we often call in help from local field rangers in the reserves where we work. However, occasionally opportunities may arise for research assistants who can commit to approximately two-week fieldwork periods in remote locations. If you are physically fit, willing to use your own transport to get to field locations, and available for the time commitment required, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

We are also not able to offer internships – conservation students seeking practical experience or Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements should please approach City of Cape Town's biodiversity branch, CapeNature or SANParks.

c. How can the general public help the Cape Leopard Trust and leopards?

By being observant in nature and sharing valuable data on leopard field signs, the presence of illegal snares, and other threats to leopards, you can contribute towards our scientific research and monitoring projects. Citizen scientists can play an important role as an extension of our eyes and ears on the ground. The CLT is compiling verifiable observations of leopards and their signs as well as threats to their survival across the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape from 2010 to the present – find out how to participate HERE.

While enjoying time out in nature, be on the lookout for illegal snares. Cut and disarm these snares and report them to us. Also report any other suspicious activity like other types of traps and feral dogs. To report live animals caught in snares, phone the Snare Free hotline on 076 127 8485.

There are various other ways to help our cause – please have a look HERE.

d. How can camera traps that belong to private landowners help the CLT and contribute to leopard conservation?

We continually promote public participation in our research. One of the ways of doing this is by encouraging private properties and landowners to purchase their own camera traps and submit their photos to the CLT. We are a small organisation with finite resources, and the involvement and support of private properties and landowners with camera traps in leopard areas are invaluable as it provides long-term monitoring data – which is very helpful when studying a wide-ranging, long-lived species like leopards. We are thankful to all these citizen scientists who contribute leopard records to our online database! (see Camera Trapping 101 for more).

e. How does information collected by the Cape Leopard Trust help leopard conservation in South Africa?

The Cape Leopard Trust’s mission is to protect leopards and leopard landscapes, and support coexistence between humans and wildlife, through collaborative research, conservation, education and strategic communications.

Using camera trap surveys, we are monitoring leopard population trends over time to detect population decline and employ timely conservation interventions. We model fine-scale habitat suitability and identify potential leopard movement corridors to protect habitat connectivity across broad landscapes. These data add to the collective body of knowledge on the status of leopard in South Africa. Our data (both leopard and non-leopard) also feed into broader biodiversity platforms such as CapeNature’s State of Biodiversity database and national Red List assessments.

Our investigations of anthropogenic pressures on leopards, leopard landscapes, and people’s perceptions of and attitudes towards leopards, helps the CLT and conservation agencies to identify threat hotspots, inform policies, and act proactively to mitigate threats. We address farmer/leopard conflict by employing constructive solution-seeking strategies that include farmers and other affected parties, and we spearhead several initiatives to address the national snaring crisis. Our data inform provincial and national strategy, and provide decision support to policy makers.

We dedicate considerable resources to environmental education, reaching thousands of learners each year through immersive wilderness camps and day outings, eco-clubs and once-off school presentations, online lessons, art competitions and online quizzes. Across all our programmes, we focus on creating meaningful experiences that inspire young people to become champions for the environment and future conservation leaders.

All of the above is disseminated widely to a global audience through simple, unambiguous, non-sensationalist, transparent and pragmatic messaging. Our consistent communication of results and new insights, sharing of camera trap images and building trust with stakeholders directly improves attitudes and tolerance towards leopards and increases conservation willingness.

f. Does the CLT have any leopards collared currently? When / where will you collar leopards next?

At present our research portfolio does not include collaring and the CLT has not collared any leopards since 2014. We continue to conduct large-scale scientifically robust research projects on leopards in the Cape region, but the capture and collaring of leopards is not necessary to attain our current research objectives. Our current research strategy focusses on understanding the status of leopard populations in the Western Cape, identifying threats to these populations, and devising and implementing targeted conservation actions to eliminate or at least mitigate these threats.

Although it is possible that we might resume collaring leopards at some point in the future, this will only be considered if there is overwhelming evidence that the data derived from collars are essential to leopard conservation in the region, and that there are no other, less invasive ways of obtaining these data. We strongly believe that collaring leopards for research must be done ethically, safely for both animals and people, efficiently, and as part of a well-designed scientific study that can yield robust data to inform practical conservation goals.

g. What is the Cape Leopard Trust’s stance on gin traps?

The Cape Leopard Trust condemns the use of gin traps (slagysters) in the strongest possible terms. Gin traps are unbelievably cruel, inhumane capture devices that are entirely unselective and non-target-specific, and cause severe soft-tissue, ligament and bone damage to any captured animal. The CLT has never used or promoted gin traps, and we do not support the use of ANY kind of trap by a landowner to manage predators; instead we advocate for holistic and sustainable livestock management practices (read more HERE). The only trapping that we support is for peer-reviewed, scientifically justifiable and ethically sound and approved research under valid permits (read more HERE).

While it is not currently illegal for private persons to buy or own a gin trap, the use of gin traps and any kind of foot-hold or leg-hold traps are indeed illegal in the Western Cape without a special permit from CapeNature, and none has been issued to the public for many years.

If you have any further questions in this regard, you are welcome to reach out to us on [email protected]

 

[Selected references related to question 2]

African Animals