Between 1998 and 2000 we carried out an intensive study on leopards living on commercial farmlands in Namibia in collaboration with MET.
The leopard study site location
The objectives of the study were to establish the population size and structure,
population density and home range size.
This was achieved through the capture and radio collaring of all the individuals
within the study site. Initial results revealed some new and interesting facts
about free-ranging leopards. The home range sizes of leopards averaged 68 km2
for the males and only 40 km2 for the females, which are the smallest home
ranges recorded for Namibian leopards.
A number of the leopard’s home ranges appeared to fall distinctly only within the mountainous areas while others only in flat areas adjacent to the mountains. We decided that this aspect of the study needed more thorough attention.
Unfortunately this remained neglected for some years until we recently came into
contact with Niko Balkenhol, a Master’s student from Germany. Niko is studying
the application of GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in wildlife
conservation and could conduct intensive analyses on our home range data.
His early findings show that not only do some leopards prefer only mountainous
areas, but specific facing slopes within those mountainous areas even though
their home ranges are so small. Over the next few months, Niko has had to turn
his attention to his thesis, but thereafter we will get together in a group
effort to write up the results of this leopard study.
Lise Hanssen
© Predator Conservation Trust.
