45% Increase in Leopard Population

As a result of the most extensive leopard research ever conducted anywhere in the world to date, the leopard population at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa now totals 30. This is the result of the findings and measures emanating from the MunYaWana Leopard Research Project, a collaboration between Panthera, a USA-based philanthropic association focused on conserving the world’s 36 species of wild cats, and &Beyond.

At the same time, the annual mortality rate has decreased from 40% before the interventions, to 13%, which is below that of a natural leopard population devoid of persecution. The Project was launched in 2002.

The Project is unique in that highly scientific data collected pre and post interventions have 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 changes to destruction permits. This new hunting model is now being trialed in neighbouring Mozambique and in Zimbabwe. 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 70 leopards have been collared compared to the highest recorded in previous studies of 31. (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 18 400 vital locations have been amassed from the GPS-collared leopards. Camera trapping (remotely triggered, digital camera technology) has also provided accurate estimates of leopards.

“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 Executive Director, 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 Shemba religion’s alleged use of leopard skins during gatherings. Please see www.toskinacat.org

During the past 12 months the Project Team has also been testing the development of an accurate fake leopard skin, using deer skin as the base, which it is hoped will alleviate some of the persecution pressure off the leopard population. This is ongoing.

Phinda’s guests are able to experience a behind-the-scenes look into the Project courtesy of our Leopard Research Specialist Safari (subject to availability). A three day safari, guests are accompanied by an experienced Specialist Safari Ranger, track some of the animals that are part of the study and discuss the findings. Participating guests experience incredible leopard sightings and also contribute towards the research and ongoing leopard conservation. The rate for the Specialist Safari is R6120.00 per day.