The Cederberg project is busy 'test driving' its equipment ready for the winter camera trap survey starting in May.

Like any keen photographer, the researchers have been out in the field evaluating the effectiveness of the different settings on the cameras to make sure they get the perfect picture. We are thrilled to report that we captured our first two leopards, and a honey badger from one of the test sites, and with 150 cameras in total planned for the new survey area we are excited to see what happens next, so watch this space as the study evolves.

Did you know that we need two cameras to properly identify an individual leopard? A leopard's spots are different on each side of its body, and the spot pattern is unique to each cat. Therefore we place a camera on each side of a pathway to ensure we can see both sides of the flank. That means we can effectively monitor particular individuals.

Cape leopards are extremely elusive, but one thing they can't change is their spots, so it is thanks to modern field camera technology that our researchers are able to keep a watchful eye on them from a distance!