Hwange Leopard Population Dynamics Project

Brief Intro
Although leopards have been studied in a variety of habitats throughout Africa, comparatively little is known about the status of this elusive and solitary large carnivore. This project aims to compare leopard populations in a protected area (South-eastern Hwange National Park) with a hunting and pastoralist area (Tsholotsho communal land). 

Background
The Zambezi Society was formed 25 years ago with the mission of assisting with the conservation of the natural resources of the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe. The Zambezi Society has been involved in a number of carnivore conservation related projects over the years, and this project is a component of a larger leopard conservation programme for Zimbabwe.

There has been increasing concern that the current utilisation system of leopard in Zimbabwe may not be sustainable given the lack of knowledge regarding the status, distribution, threats and population dynamics of this predator species.

Project Details
The primary objective is to gather information regarding whether the utilisation of leopard is sustainable. This will be done by comparing populations where leopards are fully protected (such as national parks) and areas where they are utilised bringing in other factors that might affect numbers such as land use and human densities. The south-eastern area of Hwange National Park provides an ideal location to collect data for a fully protected population of leopard and compare with data collected from an area with human settlement, livestock  and where leopard are hunted as trophy animals. The soil, rainfall and habitat of the south-eastern area of Hwange and the north-east section the Tsholotsho communal land which borders the concessions are similar, enabling a comparison of leopard populations to be carried out.

The project will carry out spoor (track) transects in the Makalolo Concession area and the adjacent area of Tsholotsho communal land to compare spoor densities between the two sites. Camera traps will also be used to aid with identification. A layout of paired camera traps (set to photograph both sides of the animal and triggered by heat or motion) is set to maximise the chance of photographing all individuals in the area. Sensors in the camera detect heat and motion, so there is no need for a beam to be crossed to trigger a camera actuation.

Project Notes
The overall aim of the project is to compare densities of leopards, and the population dynamics of leopards where they are fully protected and where they are utilised as hunting (trophy) animals. There is very limited data regarding the population dynamics of leopards and what is available indicates that they may have a complex social structure and suffer high levels of intraspecific mortality. It is important to understand the dynamics of leopard populations if we are to be able to determine what levels of offtake may be sustainable.