The Endangered Wildlife Trust and Kruger National Park are currently running a Citizen Science Census on the Wild Dog and Cheetah populations within the park’s boundaries.
Kruger National Park, South Africa (31 May 2022) – Citizen Science is a wonderful concept that brings everyday people into the realm of scientific studies related to the environment and diversity. The concept is simple, invite people to capture photos and data related to a specific species and analyse the data.
Citizen science uses the collective strength of communities and the public to aid studies over a large land space. Sometimes a scientific team cannot monitor an area due to its sheer size. When they say many hands make light work, this applies to citizen science projects. The more eyes out there, the higher probability of spotting
The Endangered Wildlife Trust announced that they had started a Citizen Science Census to count the number of endangered Wild Dogs and cheetahs living in the Kruger National Park.
The park hosts thousands of people each day, and the chances of receiving observations of both species are much higher. They encourage anyone going to the park to assist with this count. It has been done in the past for the Ground Hornbill and the Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
“The Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most important protected areas for Wild Dog and Cheetah conservation. The Endangered Wildlife Trust and SANParks would like to enlist your help in counting and monitoring these threatened carnivores!
Participate in this Citizen Science Census by sending photographs and locations of Cheetahs or Wild Dogs you may spot while you are in the Kruger to:
WhatsApp: +27 71 470 7112
Facebook or Instagram: @EWTcensus
Email: census@ewt.org.zaHow to photograph the Cheetah(s) or Wild Dog(s)
- Full body, left and right side profile photos.
- Try to get a photo from behind to assist with identifying individual sexes.
- It is important to note if more than one individual is seen. Try to take photos of one individual at a time, with some photos of the group to assist with assigning each photo to an individual.
Please note that by submitting sightings via email, you consent to receive communications from the Endangered Wildlife Trust.”
Will you be heading to the park anytime soon?
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