Research

Understanding leopard ecology and people’s relationships with leopards and leopard landscapes

The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) is a research-based organisation that utilises a variety of biological and social science research techniques to better understand leopard ecology and how humans interact with leopards. By gathering robust data, we can make informed decisions and recommendations based on scientific fact.

The initial focus of the CLT’s work during its first 15 years was to establish a comprehensive baseline of leopard research in certain core areas within the Western Cape, with camera trapping, diet analysis, and leopard collaring and tracking comprising the main activities. We’ve learnt that leopards occur at comparatively low population densities across the province; that they generally take small to medium-sized prey in proportion to what is most available in the habitat; and that they patrol vast home ranges, in some cases up to tenfold larger than in the Savanna biome.

But this was just the beginning of what’s needed to ensure the health and viability of the leopard population in the Cape. The thrust of our current and future research is to expand our work to a broader landscape level, to monitor leopard populations across regions and to contribute to applied management policy at a broad scale.

Monitoring leopard density and population trends

Repeat large-scale camera surveys to determine and monitor leopard population trends over time is a major part of this approach. Monitoring density trends serves as an essential early warning system for detecting population decline and employing timely conservation interventions. The focus is on several core monitoring areas including the Cederberg wilderness, Piketberg and Olifantsrivier mountains, Boland Mountain Complex, Overberg region as well as the Little Karoo. These surveys cover huge areas of between 1500 – 3500 km² and utilise between 120 – 180 camera traps placed in paired stations across these landscapes. Each survey runs for several months and delivers hundreds of thousands of images which then get uploaded, sorted, identified, and analysed to ultimately provide an estimate of leopard population density in an area. Non-leopard photos (of other species like grey rhebuck, honey badgers, klipspringer etc) are equally useful and feeds into broader biodiversity platforms such as CapeNature’s State of Biodiversity database, as well as national conservation assessments.

Building a consolidated centralised leopard database

We are also examining where leopards are present across the Western Cape, as well as identifying areas where they are under pressure. We have established a comprehensive leopard database encompassing the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape, which incorporates data from research institutions, statutory nature conservation bodies and hundreds of private contributors. The addition of data is ongoing to encourage continued citizen science involvement and expand leopard distribution knowledge. Using the online CLT ‘Leopard Data Portal’, data can be submitted to one of three purpose-built platforms, namely ‘Leopard Spotter’, ‘Threat Tracker’ and ‘Snare Aware’. Read more on our Data Portal page.

Identifying and protecting leopard movement corridors

We’ve conducted a province-wide occupancy analysis and modelled a fine-scale leopard habitat suitability map. We used connectivity modelling to further map potential leopard movement pathways between core habitats across the region. Results from this research provide insights into suitable areas for potential ecological corridors for leopards and can inform future camera trapping surveys (aimed at long-term population monitoring). Protecting this connectivity across broad, partially transformed and productive landscapes is essential for many species’ survival, especially wide-ranging species like leopards, and is a core activity for our efforts into the future. This includes a toolkit currently under development that incorporates our modelling into spatial data that can be used by environmental practitioners and decision makers to inform land use planning and development.

Embracing social science

To broaden our understanding of anthropogenic pressures on leopards, leopard landscapes, and people’s perceptions of and attitudes towards leopards, we’ve stepped into the social science space. Utilising questionnaire-based research into the threats faced by leopards and other predators, we investigate farmer attitudes, experiences and predator control strategies within and bordering the Western Cape. This information also helps us understand what these interactions mean for conservation, agriculture and livelihoods. We used a Local Ecological Knowledge questionnaire study to explore people’s perceptions of mammal occurrence and abundance on agricultural properties. Similar questionnaire-based approaches was used to investigate the prevalence and drivers of snaring, and to quantify the use of animal parts for traditional medicine and cultural applications. All of this knowledge helps the CLT and conservation agencies to identify threat hotspots, inform policies, and act proactively to mitigate threats – read more on our Conservation page.

Disseminating our learnings

Publishing our findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals is a key output for our research team, as scientific publications are vital to consistently improve the strategic management of the ecosystems and landscapes in which we work. Staff, students and associates of the CLT have authored, co-authored and enabled a large number of academic papers, a full list of which is available on our Publications page. A major achievement was also the inaugural Global Leopard Conference in 2023, a virtual gathering of the world’s leading leopard scientists and conservationists. The conference was conceived and driven by the CLT, ignited by our ambition to enhance leopard conservation through international dialogue and learning exchanges. In collaboration with several international conservation organisations, we co-hosted an inclusive five-day virtual conference which provided a platform to share leopard conservation lessons and promote collaborative solutions.

Research Pillar ~ Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 4 Quality Education
Goal 15 Life on Land

Help us achieve our Research goals and broaden our impact!

The Cape Leopard Trust is a non-governmental non-profit organisation fully reliant on financial support from the private and corporate sector. Much of our financial support comes from private donors, companies, charitable trusts, foundations, and businesses who support us in kind.

We are a registered Public Benefit Organisation, and donations made by companies or individuals are tax deductible and qualify for a Section 18A tax certificate.

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