A Decade of Leopard Research comes to a close at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve

As a direct result of the most extensive leopard research ever conducted anywhere in the world to date, the leopard population at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is now stable at 30 resident adults.

This was not always the case - at the onset of the project there were only an estimated 15 to 20 residents due to high leopard mortality rates; the majority of which were caused by humans.  This increase in population density is the result of the findings and measures emanating from the MunYaWana Leopard Project, a collaboration between &Beyond and Panthera, a USA-based philanthropic association focused on conserving the world’s 37 species of wild cats. 

What led to the increase in density and decrease in annual mortality rates from 40% to a more natural 13% was the implementation of interventions for sustainable leopard trophy hunting and a stricter problem animal control permitting system; set up by the MunYaWana Leopard Project in partnership with Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife.

The project is unique in that highly scientific data collected pre and post interventions has substantiated the positive impact of adopted measures, and ultimately the increase in leopards.  These measures include changes to legislated geographic hunting regions, and a more even geographic spread replacing the concentration around Phinda, as well as a reduction in now being implemented throughout most of the leopard range in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique.  The success of the project is also attributable to the introduction of a leopard management programme for cattle farmers and ranchers, providing them with training and support in alternative means of protecting their livestock from predators like leopards, instead of killing them.

The programme has been driven by Dr Luke Hunter, Dr Guy Balme and Tristan Dickerson from Panthera.  Since inception, more than 75 leopards have been collared and intensively monitored (the collars are replaced every 18 months before the batteries expire).  In addition, more than 2,000 direct observations have been tallied, 8,300 locations have been made manually using a telemetry receiver and more than 20,400 vital locations have been amassed from the GPS-collared leopards.  Camera trapping (remotely triggered, digital camera technology) has also provided accurate density estimates of the leopard population.

“Establishing a unified agreement between various stakeholders on consumptive and non consumptive use of leopards in the region was and has been pivotal to the implementation of our findings,” admits Panthera’s President, Luke Hunter.

A key finding of the research was that the leopard population had been in constant chaos resulting from the turnover caused by people killing the animals.

“When one leopard is killed there is a chance that several others will die due to the reproductive behaviour of the species”, explains Project Manager, Tristan Dickerson.  “Male leopards don’t help raise cubs but they do provide security for their females, protecting them from new males.  Stability in the population has allowed females to conceive and to have a safe window in which to raise their cubs.”

The third, and current, phase of the MunYaWana Leopard Research Project is studying the illegal persecution of leopards through snaring, poisoning and illegal shooting, and the trade in leopard skins.  Specifically, the MunYaWana Research Team is investigating the use of leopard skins within Zulu culture and the Shembe religion.  Please see www.toskinacat.org for the trailer of a documentary on this trade and possible solutions.  During the past two years the team has also been developing a low-cost fake fur that may alleviate some pressure off the wild leopard populations.  The first samples have been acknowledged by the leadership within the church as a possible solution to leopard conservation.  The followers within the Shembe religion have accepted the fake skins and state once the leadership has approved them, that they would buy them.  At present there is a leadership battle within the Shembe religion that is temporarily delaying the acceptance process.

Phinda’s guests are able to experience a behind-the-scenes look into the project courtesy of &Beyond’s Leopard Research Specialist Safari (subject to availability; valid until the project ends in June 2012). 

ISSUED BY: media@andBeyond.com

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ABOUT &Beyond

&Beyond is one of the world’s leading luxury experiential travel companies, designing personalised luxury safaris in 16 African countries, as well as India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.  The company also owns and operates 32 extraordinary lodges and camps in Africa and India’s wilderness high spots.  Established in 1991, &Beyond takes exceptional care of its guests in order to make a difference; its commitment to sustainable responsible travel and community empowerment is world renowned.

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