Population density estimate of leopards (Panthera pardus) in north-western Mpumalanga, South Africa, determined using spatially explicit capture–recapture methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Declan R. Morris ◽  
Wayne S. J. Boardman ◽  
Lourens H. Swanepoel ◽  
Greg Simpson ◽  
Jannie Coetzee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Density Estimate ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Population Density Estimate ◽  
North Western

scholarly journals Leopard Panthera pardus density in southern Mozambique: evidence from spatially explicit capture–recapture in Xonghile Game Reserve

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Strampelli ◽  
Leah Andresen ◽  
Kristoffer T. Everatt ◽  
Michael J. Somers ◽  
J. Marcus Rowcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Density Estimate ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Game Reserve ◽  
Empirical Density ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hunting Quotas

AbstractRigorous status estimates of populations of large carnivores are necessary to inform their management and help evaluate the effectiveness of conservation interventions. The African leopard Panthera pardus faces rising anthropogenic pressures across most of its contracting sub-Saharan range, but the scarcity of reliable population estimates means that management decisions often have to rely on expert opinion rather than being based on sound evidence. This is particularly true for Mozambique, where little is known about the ecology or conservation status of leopard populations as a result of prolonged armed conflict. We used camera trapping and spatially explicit capture–recapture models to provide a leopard density estimate in Xonghile Game Reserve in southern Mozambique, which is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier conservation initiative. The estimated population density was 2.60 ± SE 0.96 leopards/100 km2. Our study provides a baseline leopard density for the region and the first empirical density estimate for southern Mozambique. Our results also suggest that current methods used to set trophy hunting quotas for leopards, both in Mozambique and elsewhere in Africa, may be leading to unsustainable quotas, which highlights the importance of robust empirical data in guiding conservation policy.

scholarly journals High carnivore population density highlights the conservation value of industrialised sites

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan J. E. Loock ◽  
Samual T. Williams ◽  
Kevin W. Emslie ◽  
Wayne S. Matthews ◽  
Lourens H. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
High Abundance ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Disturbed Habitats

AbstractAs the environment becomes increasingly altered by human development, the importance of understanding the ways in which wildlife interact with modified landscapes is becoming clear. Areas such as industrial sites are sometimes presumed to have little conservation value, but many of these sites have areas of less disturbed habitats around their core infrastructure, which could provide ideal conditions to support some species, such as mesocarnivores. We conducted the first assessments of the density of serval (Leptailurus serval) at the Secunda Synfuels Operations plant, South Africa. We ran three camera trap surveys to estimate serval density using a spatially explicit capture recapture framework. Servals occurred at densities of 76.20-101.21 animals per 100 km2, which are the highest recorded densities for this species, presumably due to high abundance of prey and the absence of persecution and/or competitor species. Our findings highlight the significant conservation potential of industrialised sites, and we suggest that such sites could help contribute towards meeting conservation goals.

scholarly journals Population dynamics and threats to an apex predator outside protected areas: implications for carnivore management

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 161090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samual T. Williams ◽  
Kathryn S. Williams ◽  
Bradley P. Lewis ◽  
Russell A. Hill
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Carnivore Conservation ◽  
Gps Collars ◽  
Trophy Hunting ◽  
Human Wildlife Conflict

Data on the population dynamics and threats to large carnivores are vital to conservation efforts, but these are hampered by a paucity of studies. For some species, such as the leopard ( Panthera pardus ), there is such uncertainty in population trends that leopard trophy hunting has been banned in South Africa since 2016 while further data on leopard abundance are collected. We present one of the first assessments of leopard population dynamics, and identify the key threats to a population of leopards outside of protected areas in South Africa. We conducted a long-term trap survey between 2012 and 2016 in the Soutpansberg Mountains, and drew on a previous estimate of leopard population density for the region from 2008. In 24 sampling periods, we estimated the population density and assessed population structure. We fitted eight leopards with GPS collars to assess threats to the population. Leopard population density declined by 66%, from 10.73 to 3.65 leopards per 100 km 2 in 2008 and 2016, respectively. Collared leopards had a high mortality rate, which appeared to be due to illegal human activity. While improving the management of trophy hunting is important, we suggest that mitigating human–wildlife conflict could have a bigger impact on carnivore conservation.

scholarly journals Assumptions about fence permeability influence density estimates for brown hyaenas across South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn S. Williams ◽  
Samual T. Williams ◽  
Rebecca J. Welch ◽  
Courtney J. Marneweck ◽  
Gareth K. H. Mann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Dominant Feature ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Density Results

AbstractWildlife population density estimates provide information on the number of individuals in an area and influence conservation management decisions. Thus, accuracy is vital. A dominant feature in many landscapes globally is fencing, yet the implications of fence permeability on density estimation using spatial capture-recapture modelling are seldom considered. We used camera trap data from 15 fenced reserves across South Africa to examine the density of brown hyaenas (Parahyaena brunnea). We estimated density and modelled its relationship with a suite of covariates when fenced reserve boundaries were assumed to be permeable or impermeable to hyaena movements. The best performing models were those that included only the influence of study site on both hyaena density and detection probability, regardless of assumptions of fence permeability. When fences were considered impermeable, densities ranged from 2.55 to 15.06 animals per 100 km2, but when fences were considered permeable, density estimates were on average 9.52 times lower (from 0.17 to 1.59 animals per 100 km2). Fence permeability should therefore be an essential consideration when estimating density, especially since density results can considerably influence wildlife management decisions. In the absence of strong evidence to the contrary, future studies in fenced areas should assume some degree of permeability in order to avoid overestimating population density.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document