The Cape Leopard Trust celebrates the conclusion of another successful camera survey project, which highlights all the wildlife found in an area; they spotted 31 different species in Piketberg.
Piketberg, South Africa (15 April 2025) – The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) runs surveys of Leopards in the mountain regions of the Western Cape to try and get a better understanding of movements and a general population count of Leopards for each area. The most recent survey, conducted in the greater Piketberg and Olifantsrivier Mountains, has unearthed some real gems! The idea is that game cameras are set up in strategic spots and they then capture the movements of animals in the area.
The survey, which consisted of 74 paired camera stations spanning roughly 1500 km2 of mostly unprotected mountainous habitat interspersed with agricultural land, resulted in a total of 154,000 images.
The cameras are then collected, and the process of identification can begin. The CLT utilises image recognition software, which speeds up the whole process and improves accuracy when identifying species and individual leopards.
This time around, 31 wild mammal species were identified, including aardwolf, aardvark, Cape fox, striped polecat, and even African snake weasel and black-backed jackal. The cameras also recorded several bird species, including spotted eagle-owl, jackal buzzard, rock kestrel, purple and grey heron, a spotted thick-knee and a pied kingfisher!
Photo Credit: Cape Leopard Trust
The survey recorded leopards at 54 out of the 74 camera locations – a success rate of 73%. A total of 45 different adult cats were identified, of which 15 individuals were also recorded during the previous survey in 2020. This is encouraging, as it indicates that individual leopards remain in the same area for a relatively long period.
The main aim of the camera survey was to generate an up-to-date density estimate for leopards in the region that can be compared to previous results. It is safe to say this method is working well and the team are able to get great data from their efforts.
Aside from running the photo survey, the CLT Education team also visited local schools to deliver environmental education lessons. They showed the classes photos captured within their area, giving the learners the chance to see the wild animals living in close proximity. The CLT Research and Conservation Field Officer joined lessons to inspire learners with his personal experiences of what it is like to be a wildlife researcher working in their area.
In an effort to connect with landowners, the team also surveyed their experiences of living with wildlife, their attitudes towards predators, and their understanding of wildlife corridors. As one can imagine, the farmers who raise livestock had shared losses due to predation, but others also noted finding illegal snares on their properties.
“The details provided about these challenges enable us to direct conservation support in the area accordingly.” – Cape Leopard Trust
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The whole project ended with a feedback lunch in March 2025 with the conservation partners and Piketberg landowners and managers who were involved in the camera survey. The team shared their results as well as any recent changes in legislation pertaining to the management of predators.
Building meaningful relationships helps to encourage reporting and the prevention of livestock losses caused by predators.
“It was a great opportunity to also distribute the newly launched collaborative ‘Landowners’ Guide to Human-Wildlife Conflict’. The session was well received and networking between the attendees was an important output from the get together.”
You can read more about the guide and download it via the Cape Leopard Trust website here.
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