Introduction

Different species, and even different individual animals within those species, utilize diverse habitat types depending on their preferred hunting techniques. Leopards usually select habitats to feed in which either have an abundance of prey, or alternatively landscapes that allows for prey to be caught more easily. Landscapes can influence hunting success in a number of ways. For example, a watering hole can increase the chance of a predator encountering potential prey. Vegetation type can also effect the hunt negatively or positively by amount of cover offered to the predator, or alternatively by limiting the detection of prey. The decision whether to select a feeding habitat either for prey abundance or catchability is made by whichever method requires the least energy output compared to energy gained.

Leopards are highly adaptable animals and can made use of varied habitat types, therefore their preferred home range and exact location is very hard to predict. However, most leopards rely on adequate cover to conceal their approach during a hunt, as they need to be close to their prey before initiating a relatively short charge. Leopards also experience a high degree of kleptoparasitism and therefore prefer the availability of dense vegetation, caves or large trees in which to cach their prey.

Leopards are rarely constrained by fences and can move freely through neighbouring properties. Previous studies have named nyala, impala, warthog, duiker and reedbuck among the more important leopard prey species. They also found that most habitats were utilised for hunting, except for grasslands, which were largely avoided. Prey group size is expected to decrease with the increase of woody vegetation density.

Since I arrived in the volunteer co-ordinator position at Kariega I have tested all ten of the trail cameras and found them in perfect working condition. However, only eight of the cameras are currently being used in the project, as only eight of the original memory cards are available. The remaining two memory cards are lacking adapters and are unable to function without them. Helena also bought ten new memory cards on Jacques request prior to my arrival, as this allows for a straight memory card swap, which ensures that the cameras are running all the time and enhances the chances of capturing a leopard on camera. After much frustration though we found that the new memory cards were 4GB SDHC (high definition) as opposed to the more old fashioned SD cards that are compatible with the trail cameras. We are in the process of selling and swapping these cards for the more suitable 2GB SD cards, and I feel confident that we will have this small problem rectified soon. The additional batteries that were purchased for the program are working superbly and also help to unsure that all the cameras are running continuously, as there are always at least half the amount of batteries needed available to charge at any time.

Study site

This is the second rotation of the leopard project on Kariega Game Reserve, which will from henceforth be run on a three-month rotational basis. There are currently four cameras on Kariega East (KE), two on Kariega West (KW) and two on Harvestvale.

  • Site 1: North East of Broken Weir, along the river bank. (KE)
  • Site 2: Harvestvale dam 1, close to Yellow Gate off of Red Clay Road. (Harvestvale)
  • Site 3: Harvestvale dam 2, south of dam 1. (Harvestvale)
  • Site 4: Lansdale Kloof, off of Sunset Main. (KE)
  • Site 5: East of Nyala Crossing, on a dead end road. (KE)
  • Site 6: Ukhozi drive, on the old road that is now closed. (KE)
  • Site 7: Waterfall. (KW)
  • Site 8: Forest, along the river. (KW)

Methods

Cameras were positioned in places determined most likely to be frequented by leopards. These included places that were seen as secluded from human and competitor activity, close to water sources and cliffs, and vegetation that was dense or included large trees in which prey could be cached. The areas also had to have available potential prey species. All of the cameras on KE received bait traps in front of the camera. This a metal pipe wit a square base that is dug into the ground and filled with meat scraps each week in order to attract leopards to the scent of carrion. The bait traps are covered in mesh wire so that the meat can not be removed by any animal and merely supplies an alluring scent. These were not used on KW as they may attract other predators, such as the lions, that would in turn frighten the leopards from those particular areas. The cameras were placed in areas where they captured the greatest area possible and where there was minimal interference from vegetation etc, which could set the motion detectors off falsely.

I have found through trial and error that changing the memory cards and batteries once a week is sufficient for the areas chosen for this particular rotation of the cameras. This is because the spots chosen are relatively secluded even from your more common game species, in the hope of aiming specifically for leopard prone areas. In future however some cameras may have to be changed twice per week, depending on the abundance of game in each particular area.

Images taken from the memory cards are stored on the Toshiba 1 TB hard drive that was supplied to the project by Kariega Game Reserve. This is a positive development for the project, as information can be stored for future use and all the relevant data is kept in one place regardless of who is running the program. Data collection and retention in this manner is invaluable to the long-term success of any project.

Results

Total Images / Total Species
Site 1 / 3 / 1
Site 2 / 33 / 7
Site 3 / 116 / 9
Site 4 / 5 / 2
Site 5 / 50 / 8
Site 6 / 12 / 2
Site 7 / 3 / 1
Site 8 / 1 / 0