With the first month of 2020 already on its back, this is a long-overdue first website news post for the new year – but as the saying goes, better late than never!
To start the year off on the right foot, the whole of the Cape Leopard Trust team attended a planning workshop earlier in January. We chose the beautiful Flower Valley near Gansbaai as our location and spent a productive day unpacking our vision for 2020 and getting some exciting plans on track for our main projects.
We also used the opportunity to explore some other local conservation initiatives. The team thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) in Kleinbaai, a project of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. It was fascinating to learn from the on-site veterinary nurse, Theanett Staal, about the trials and tribulations of these endearing and endangered seabirds – whose inability to move well on land makes them particularly vulnerable to predators like leopards at their land-based colonies. The education team then had a mutual learning session with Pinky Ngewu, the Dyer Island Environmental Education Programme (DEEP) coordinator. Last but not least we also visited the Grootbos Foundation at Grootbos Nature Reserve to learn about their varied activities and outreach programmes and to explore ways to collaborate on future initiatives. Some new links were forged, particularly with Nwabisa Mjoli at the Dibanisa Project – a unique after-school programme that combines sport and natural education excursions to encourage environmental appreciation.
We would like to thank Mike Fabricius from Grootbos Foundation and Brenda du Toit at Dyer Island Conservation Trust for arranging very insightful experiences!
Team CLT is rearing and ready to take on the new year, its challenges and opportunities. May 2020 be a happy and prosperous one for all, and may the new decade awaken a renewed dedication and drive from all stakeholders to protect our unique natural heritage - the spotted top predators of the Cape, their prey and their mountain habitat.
