23 February 2010 13:33:54
This project will help us save the lives of wild leopards in our area.
In December 2009 SanWild applied for a permit to capture, dart and collar “problem” leopards outside the reserve. We are extremely pleased that these permits have now been issued by the conservation department and approval for a research project has been obtained. Your urgent help is needed to launch this very important conservation project.
During 2008/2009 four wild leopards were hunted on farms adjoining the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary and yet another was killed in a poacher’s snare. Taking into consideration how wild leopard numbers have declined in recent years, this has been a tragic and unnecessary loss. Wild leopards are easily branded as so-called “damage causing” or “problem” leopards and too many destruction permits have been issued by the conservation departments in recent years. Hundreds of innocent leopards have been shot by professional hunters and their clients abusing the “damages causing” animal permit system.
After these illegal hunts have taken place, the leopard skin is normally smuggled or sent out of the country on fraudulently obtained permits. At least in some instances offenders have been arrested. A large number of innocent leopards have also been destroyed as so called “cattle killers” and others have fallen prey to poachers. Leopards simply can no longer withstand the onslaught against them by mankind and urgent intervention is needed to ensure that this magnificent cat is protected for future generations.
Over the years SanWild has done what we can to protect a small group of leopards living in our immediate area and in the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary.
We hope as prey numbers increase inside the boundary of the reserve wild leopards will choose to hunt their prey in the safety of a protected area where they will be safe from trophy hunters.
Leopards unfortunately are notoriously difficult to keep inside the perimeter fences of protected areas and it is necessary to ensure their protection (and also the understanding of leopards) outside protected areas as well.
For leopards to survive it is necessary to get the cooperation of adjoining landowners and to prove beyond doubt if a particular leopard has turned to killing cattle or domestic livestock.
It is also necessary to be able to determine the movements of wild leopards and possible stock damage. The education of land owners is also an extremely important factor that will determine the outcome of the battle between landowners and predators. In South Africa we are constantly faced with old fashioned ideas and perceptions; from a time where the only good leopard was a dead leopard. Hundreds of leopards in South Africa have been hunted illegally, have died as a result of snaring and gin traps and have been hunted in “legal” hunts.
Today we also have to face the increasing demand for leopard products for traditional African culture in a time when wild leopard are declining as a result of poaching, legal and illegal hunting, habitat destruction and human encroachment. The bottom line remains – leopards are in serious trouble and need our urgent help.
We believe that two leopards in our immediate vicinity range over a reasonably large area; including the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary. We know that unless action is taken it is simply a matter of time before “damage causing animal” destruction permits is issued and the leopards shot by trophy hunters.
For us to help protect the leopards and assure their survival we applied for permits to dart, collar and study the leopards’ movement by means of GPS tracking. This research study will prove beyond doubt if the leopards are “problem” animals. Compensation to land owners for actual life stock killed by the collared leopards will be paid during the research project that will run for 12 months from the date the 1st leopard can be darted and collared.
This is an extremely exciting and very necessary project and will be launched in conjunction with a number of other leopard conservation groups operating throughout South Africa. The sole objective of the research project will be to save leopards lives, obtain important scientific data by researching leopard behavior and hunting techniques and to education landowners. This project will save leopards.
SanWild urgently need your support to raise the $10 000.00 necessary to launch the project. Project costs include GPS tracking collars and computer software, veterinary fees and transportation. All other costs relating to the accommodation, transport and research costs will be carried by the trust and the other leopard conservation projects.
For more information please email Louise Joubert on louise@sanwild.org or phone our office on +27 (0) 15-3187900 or make a donaton on-line via this website.
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