UP research shows leopard numbers are vulnerable

A few years ago, PhD candidate Lourens Swanepoel, under supervision of Prof Michael Somers and Dr Fredrik Dalerum of the Centre for Wildlife Management at the University of Pretoria, decided to look into the survival rates and causes of mortality of leopards in southern Africa. Before Swanepoel’s research, there was little science available regarding the viability of the species. The little data available stemmed from only two studies dating from the late 1970s and one during the late 2000s.

As Swanepoel gathered information, one thing was becoming depressingly clearer – leopard survival rates were under pressure, largely related to human activities. The objectives of his study included understanding why leopard survival rates were low and investigating existing wildlife management systems as possible reasons for such low survival rates. He soon realised that in order for his children and next generations to see wild populations roaming freely, better management interventions would have to be put in place.

Leopard survival rates, in protected as well as in non-protected areas, were found to be low for a variety of reasons, such as trophy hunting, killing of problem leopards and poaching for skins. Swanepoel regards the illegal and legal killing of so-called ‘problem leopards’ as the most troubling reason. Leopards live in very complex and stable social systems, which are disrupted whenever a leopard is killed. Besides the loss of the animal, the disruption of the social system leads to high levels of intra-specific conflict, which normally leads to additional mortalities. Adding to the complexity of this problem is the deep-rooted opinions people have of predators. Large carnivores have long carried the connotation that they are vermin and troublesome to the livestock and game farmer and that they need to be eradicated. Because leopards’ habitat includes protected as well as unprotected areas, they often fall victim to accidental and non-accidental deaths. Accidental deaths include snaring and roadkill. Non-accidental deaths include people’s deliberate efforts to get rid of them in the form of trophy hunting or killing so-called problem leopards on livestock and game farms.

Because leopards roam across wide areas, their range often crosses livestock and game farms; smaller farm animals are easy prey for leopards. Livestock farms are usually easier to manage, and there are ways that leopards can be deterred from entering the farm, such as the introduction of livestock guarding dogs and suitable fences.

Game farms, however, are a different story, and the rapid growth in the game farming industry is proving most negative to leopard numbers. Game farms are not suitable grounds for guarding dogs, as guarding dogs cannot guard wild animals such as antelope. Game farms are also often much larger than livestock farms and therefore much more difficult, though not impossible, to manage. Swanepoel says that a large proportion of game farms are business enterprises where profit ultimately drives decisions. It is becoming increasingly common for game farmers to spend vast amounts of money on breeds of game such as the black impala and other expensive colour morphs. Farmers will resort to drastic measures to protect these ‘commodities’. Applying for permits to get rid of leopards is not an impossible task when the law says if a predator kills any wild specimen, it can be classified as ’causing damage’. Swanepoel stresses that, if farmers are spending millions on exotic animals, adequate precautionary measures should be taken to protect them. Unfortunately, farmers do not always take adequate precautions, resulting in leopards often unfairly being classified as ‘causing damage’. The same applies to most of the larger carnivores in South Africa.

Swanepoel’s data shows that leopard killings on game and livestock farms are having a huge effect on the survival rates of leopards. Especially adult females are taking a heavy toll, which has dramatic effects on population viability, even though the perceptions of the public and of farmers are that leopards are increasing in numbers.

However, studying leopards is a huge challenge and data is limited. Massive gaps exist between the scientific research and the application of this research on the ground. Researchers can only take their work up to a point, with the main focus usually being on getting research published. How the research is disseminated and received is often beyond the researcher’s control. Ideally, governmental involvement in effecting adequate management and implementation would contribute to the acceptance of scientific research.

All the data presented in Swanepoel’s study is data that can be defended. According to this data alone, leopard numbers and survival seem to be vulnerable rather than a ‘least concern’, as previously thought. Swanepoel notes the existence of other factors causing leopard numbers to dwindle which are not included in his study. These include poaching leopards for muti and for the skins. In South Africa, the Zulu practice of wearing leopard skins during religious celebrations is hugely affecting leopard numbers.

Based on Swanepoel’s findings, there is definite cause for concern regarding the viability of leopards in southern Africa. The fact that suitable habitats are often not in protected areas increases the threat to their numbers. Unethical hunters and farmers also do not bode well for leopards. One certainty remains at this stage – the mortality of this elusive creature is a direct result of human activities. Swanepoel’s research, however, offers some hope by successfully highlighting how predators, specifically leopards, show where problems in wildlife management exist. If these management issues are addressed, leopard populations will most likely recover.

Lourens Swanepoel, Prof Michael Somers, Dr Fredrik Dalerum

March 11, 2015

  • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Researchers
  • Professor Michael J Somers
    Wildlife researcher and lecturer Professor Michael J Somers is recognised internationally as an expert in his field, and currently serves on four International Union for Conservation of Nature specialist advisory groups: African wild dogs, otters, wild pigs and small carnivores.

    Born in Pietermaritzburg, he studied zoology, botany and wildlife management at the University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu-Natal) and the University of Pretoria (UP) before obtaining his PhD in zoology from Stellenbosch University.

    Currently an Associate of the Mammal Research Institute at UP and a core team member of the Centre for Invasion Biology in the University’s Department of Zoology and Entomology, Prof Somers’ main research focus is on carnivore ecology, conservation and wildlife management.

    Following a four-year stint in the field studying wild dogs in Zululand, he returned to teaching in 2001, a passion he discovered during his PhD studies.

    His research output has also been prolific, having published 129 papers in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, 40 other publications and two books (with a third book in press). He has also supervised or co-supervised 42 honours research projects, 21 research MSc and eight PhD students.

    Research conducted with his students have covered a wide variety of subjects, including the impact of fencing on wildlife; studies on species ranging in size from spiders and crabs to predator species such as lion, cheetah and leopard, and whales; as well as studies on aphids, seed dispersal or the impacts of fire.

    Last year, Prof Somers co-authored a paper voicing strong concern about the Animal Improvement Act (1998), cautioning that reclassifying several South African wildlife species as farm animals would not “improve” the genetics of the species and would instead have considerable negative genetic consequences and pose ecological and economic risks.

    Prof Somers has also served as Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Wildlife Research, Academic Editor of PLOS One and PeerJ, associate editor of Mammalian Biology and African Journal of Wildlife Research, and sits on the editorial boards of Koedoe and Nature Conservation Research.

    Of the many wildlife species you have studied, is there one animal that fascinates you most?
    African clawless otters, which I did my PhD on. Although you do not see them often, every encounter with them is memorable.
    What attracted you to teaching?
    I instantly liked teaching, and the students seemed to like my approach. Students want their lecturers to be engaging, humorous, wise and informative. At the start, I was young and naive, with no formal teaching training or the advantage of having read good books on teaching and learning, but I still got good feedback, which convinced me to follow an academic path. By the time the students graduate, they should also be able to use the knowledge, think independently, gather information themselves and be able to assess new knowledge.

    With the rapid growth of Africa’s human population and disappearance of wild landscapes, are you optimistic that wild animals have enough space to survive?
    It is context dependent. An increasing amount of land has been put under conservation, which is encouraging. An example of this is the Transfrontier parks. However, even in many African conservation areas, the numbers of animals are declining owing to the overuse of resources within these areas. We have a new project in West Africa, and I have been shocked to learn how few of even the large charismatic species such as lions and wild dogs are left there. Wildlife still needs more space and protection in that space.
    You co-wrote a book on the pros and cons of fences for wildlife. Will fences ever disappear?
    Although the preferred scenario is to have fences disappear, I do not believe they will go for the most part. Present reserves will continue to drop barriers to join others or become part of more extensive reserves. This is good for ecosystem functioning. Many reserves in Africa do not have fences but rather buffer zones, which sometimes work. As the human population expands and needs more resources, the reserves are put under increasing pressure, the buffer zones are not appropriately managed and the animals in the reserves are overharvested. Although not ideal, but as shown to be somewhat effective in South Africa, fencing some new areas, maintaining the fences and having effective law enforcement may be needed.

    As a lecturer, what is your approach to instilling ethical behaviour in your students?
    As we often see in the media, the wildlife sector (like any industry, really) is plagued by corruption and unethical behaviour. This includes poaching, wildlife theft and the poor treatment of animals. Our students are likely to encounter this after leaving university, so it is essential to alert them to this and try to instil in them a good work ethic and respect for wildlife as a whole, as well as for individual animals.

    What do you do in your spare time?
    I still enjoy game drives to watch animals, often in our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve. I also try to play the guitar.
    More from this Researcher

Related Photo

Other Related Research

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

Share