The Landmark Foundation has placed several camera traps in the mountains above Greyton and Genadendal as part of its ongoing research into isolated leopard populations in the Western Cape. Two different leopards have been recorded and it appears as if they are a male and female, so the exciting possibility exists of leopard cubs in the near future.

This research aims at establishing the current status of leopard populations so that conservation efforts can be designed to safeguard them. A concern is that there are several very small populations that are separated by large areas of agricultural or urban land. The danger of in-breeding exists, and it is hoped to try and establish safe corridors through which these separate populations can be linked.

The camera traps have added a fascinating dimension to appreciating wildlife in our mountains. Hikers have always known that leopards were around from sightings of spoor and droppings, however these claims were always treated with mild disbelief by others. The fact that many of the larger mammals that live in the mountains are very shy and nocturnal meant that the chances of seeing them were very slight. Now we have photographic evidence of these animals, often on the same paths we are hiking on.

Other animals that have been photographed include: klipspringer; grey rhebok; porcupine; honeybadger; genet ; cape hare; baboon and  mongoose.

Zebra Moon have sponsored accommodation for the Landmark Foundation team and are planning to sponsor a camera in 2012. We are creating several activities for School groups with leopard conservation as a theme. Leopards are a great way to get an environmental message across as most people are more interested in large cats than fynbos ants! However as leopards are apex predators the whole ecosystem must be functioning properly to sustain leopards. School groups will be able to hike to one of the cameras and download the photographs, in the evening we will then screen the photographs – this is very exciting to see what has been captured on film at the very spot you hiked to!

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