Leopard Research Project
Jorgelina Marino
From: William [mailto:wi...@wcjfox.com]
Sent: 09 July 2009 18:04
To: in...@peopleandwildlife.org.uk
Subject: Leopard Research Project
I would like to let you now a little more about the Ingwe Leopard Project based in South Africa, with the aim of raising awareness of the project and our conservation work and hopefully establishing a connection with your People and Wildlife.
The Ingwe Leopard Project conducts research into the behaviour of leopards (Panthera pardus) in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Data on the density and behaviour of Leopards outside of formally protected areas does not currently exist in any credible format, leaving a gap in understanding. Substantiated data is required to assist in the formulation of wildlife management policies. One key area reasons for this research is to assist in the formulation of wildlife management policies, using scientifically gathered and recorded data. It is essential that management practices be established to address the issues that surround the conflict between people and predators, whether this is farmers or hunters.
Ingwe Leopard Project research is conducted outside of formally protected area’s, where there are both resident and transient leopards at any given time. Initial research established that the home range of any individual leopard can vary in size from 3,000 hectares to over 240,000 hectares. This variation is further compounded by seasonal weather conditions. To enable population monitoring the ILP has developed unique research methods. The most successful of which has been to create identification kits for study animal. These ID kits are then used to note the movement and behaviour of each study animal.
GPS tracking collars are also used to monitor leopard movement. The ILP was the first project to successfully use GPS tracking collars on leopard in 2004. Since then the project has continued to use these devices predominantly on translocated animals, but latterly on resident territorial leopards. GPS tacking collars provide multiple points of location data per day.
I hope that you would like to find out more about the Ingwe Leopard Project and if so please get in touch.
Best Regards
Will Fox
ILP Manger
http://ingweleopardproject.ning.com
http://ingweaction.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1726072065&ref=profile
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