Big cats in the Berg...
The primary aim of the Ukhahlamba Berg Leopard Study is to facilitate the research and conservation of the Drakensberg’s last remaining big cats and the myriad of wildlife they share their habitat with. By actively engaging in field research, promoting predator friendly farming ideology and engaging in conservation education with local communities, the study is determined to shed more light on the life of the Drakensberg leopard thereby assisting in assuring it’s continued conservation for years to come.
The study target area is a large expanse of the northern KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg stretching from the Royal Natal National Park to the Oliviershoek Pass bordering the Free State province. Research methods we are implementing include passive camera traps and will in future include thermal imaging technology, collar and track technology and creation of a DNA diversity database.
The last officially documented leopard account from the study area is from the Royal Natal National Park in 1910 (Ezemvelo Wildlife) , although since then many leopard sightings and encounters have been documented and continue today.Although the leopard is an iconic species and a member of the famous African “Big Five”, relatively little time and effort is concentrated on study of the animal in South Africa.
Our aim is to compliment the excellent leopard research being done in the Cape by expanding the research into an area which is shrouded in mystery yet holds so much hope. The Drakensberg may be one of the last truly wild refuges leopards can call home.
New cameras up for 2012...
It seems that 2012 has already begun with a bang and we are already 3 months down the line...if it continues like this then it is going to be a very quick year.
Withthe unexpected passing away of Jackie at the end of 2011 many of our initial plans for 2012 have been put on the back-burner, however there has been some improvement of the camera-trap coverage at The Cavern. The Bedingham's have graciously purchased an additional 2 cameras for their property - taking the coverage to 4 cameras in total.
The last batch of downloaded data at The Cavern rounded off 2011 quite nicely and some consistent sightings throughout the year have proved healthy populations of Common Duiker, Mountain Reedbuck, Common Bushbuck, Porcupine, Serval, Black-Backed Jackal, Baboon and Eland in the area. Added to that a single African Wild Cat sighting and the variety is rounded-out.
Sightings we are hoping to add during 2012 include Brown Hyena and obviously Leopard.
This is excellent news for a property which has been officially designated an "area of specific interest" from a conservation perspective and has been specifically lauded by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
During our last visit to the area in February a night-trip on the roads in the area proved to be an interesting experience with at least one cat species being observed (most likely African Wild Cat or Serval) as well as Black-Backed Jackal.
Towards the latter stages of April we will be downloading our second set of data from the Berghouse properties. This download is exciting as the cameras are located in a very secluded ravine and should provide some interesting sightings.
Although our target species - Leopard - has yet to be captured on camera we will not cease our efforts - someday that vision will pay off and the leopard will once again be officially crowned king of the Berg.
The Tugela valley in the northern Berg is an extremely important consevation area as it is essentially the catchment and source of the largest (and arguably the most important) river on the East coast of South Africa.
Reflecting on 2011...
So 2011 has come and gone and the first year of the Berg Leopard Study has been an eventful one.
The main goal of our first year in existence was to gauge the interest and engage with landowners in our study area. In my opinion we have attained our goal as the interest in the study has been overwhelming and by the end of 2012 we will be able to install trail cameras on every piece of ground from Royal Natal to the Oliviershoek Pass. Our very first property – The Cavern, as well as Berghouse are now up and running with potential new properties like Montusi, The Ledges, George Spies’s farm (all whom have expressed interest and we will follow up in the first quarter of 2012) due to be added in the coming year.
So far the yields on the cameras at The Cavern and Berghouse have been promising with a variety of prey species in abundance, as well as healthy populations of game in the region. As 2012 progresses and we have the ability to increase our coverage we will have greater chances of catching our target species on camera.
The Cavern are the first to take the initiative by procuring two additional cameras for their property upping the coverage to 4 cameras in total. We are hoping to increase the camera coverage on other properties.
Although we have as yet captured a leopard on the cameras there have been healthy sightings of Eland, Common Duiker, Mountain Reedbuck, Black-Backed Jackal, African Wild Cat, Serval, Common Bushbuck, Porcupine and Baboon so far.
The Berg Leopard Trust will be established in early 2012 enabling us to increase our potential sponsorship opportunities and formalize the study from an administrative and financial perspective.
On a sad note we did have to endure the passing-away of a stalwart of the study – Jackie De Swardt. After a short battle with illness she unexpectedly passed away in November. A wife to Clive, a mother to Jason and Bronwyn and a mother-in-law to Veronica.
In her memory we will continue with the study, work as hard as ever and will dedicate ourselves to it’s continued success.
May you all have a blessed 2012…
 | In memory of Jackie De Swardt, a loving mother, wife and friend... Your memories will be with us whenever we set foot in the Berg... |
How can you support the study...Unfortunately with an ever increasing vision comes ever increasing costs and with our plans to increase the camera numbers at our existing sites, as well as adding new properties (and the cameras needed there), sponsorship is becoming a great need for the study. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in supporting the study in some way please drop us a message at bergleopardstudy@gmail.com for more information. "Sponsorship to us is not a hand-out...it is an investment in a worthy cause...an investment in our heritage and a means to work together for the betterment of our mountains...our Drakensberg" |  |
