4 research outputs found
Population density estimate of leopards (Panthera pardus) in north-western Mpumalanga, South Africa, determined using spatially explicit capture-recapture methods
AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL : Raw data and material are either published in the manuscript or available in data repository DANS (https://doi.org/10.17026/dans-zvs-betq).Please read abstract in the article.PhD student operating funds available from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at The University of Adelaide.https://link.springer.com/journal/42991hj2023Production Animal Studie
Survival rates and causes of mortality of leopards Panthera pardus in southern Africa
Estimation of survival rates is important for
developing and evaluating conservation options for large
carnivores. However, telemetry studies for large carnivores
are often characterized by small sample sizes that limit
meaningful conclusions. We used data from 10 published
and 8 unpublished studies of leopards Panthera pardus in
southern Africa to estimate survival rates and investigate
causes of leopard mortality. Mean survival rates were significantly
lower in non-protected (0.55 ± SE 0.08) compared
to protected areas (0.88 ± 0.03). Inside protected areas
juveniles had significantly lower survival (0.39 ± 0.10) compared
to subadults (0.86 ± 0.07) and adults (0.88 ± 0.04).
There was a greater difference in cause of death between
protected and non-protected areas for females compared to
males, with people being the dominant cause of mortality
outside protected areas for both females and males. We
suggest there is cause for concern regarding the sustainability
of leopard populations in South Africa, as high
female mortality may have severe demographic effects and a large proportion of suitable leopard habitat lies
in non-protected areas. However, because a large proportion
of deaths outside protected areas were attributed
to deliberate killing by people, we suggest that management
interventions may have the potential to increase
leopard survival dramatically. We therefore stress the
urgency to initiate actions, such as conflict mitigation
programmes, to increase leopard survival in non-protected
areas.The International
Foundation of Science (D/4984-1), Wild Foundation
(2008-011), Wilson Foundation and the University of
Pretoria. LHS was further supported by the National
Research Foundation (74819), FD by the National Research
Foundation and a research fellowship from the University
of Pretoria, and MJS by the Department of Science and
Technology Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology
and the National Research Foundation.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=ORXam201
Survival rates and causes of mortality of leopards Panthera pardus in southern Africa
Estimation of survival rates is important for developing and evaluating conservation options for large carnivores. However, telemetry studies for large carnivores are often characterized by small sample sizes that limit meaningful conclusions. We used data from 10 published and 8 unpublished studies of leopards Panthera pardus in southern Africa to estimate survival rates and investigate causes of leopard mortality. Mean survival rates were significantly lower in non-protected (0.55 ± SE 0.08) compared to protected areas (0.88 ± 0.03). Inside protected areas juveniles had significantly lower survival (0.39 ± 0.10) compared to subadults (0.86 ± 0.07) and adults (0.88 ± 0.04). There was a greater difference in cause of death between protected and non-protected areas for females compared to males, with people being the dominant cause of mortality outside protected areas for both females and males. We suggest there is cause for concern regarding the sustainability of leopard populations in South Africa, as high female mortality may have severe demographic effects and a large proportion of suitable leopard habitat lies in non-protected areas. However, because a large proportion of deaths outside protected areas were attributed to deliberate killing by people, we suggest that management interventions may have the potential to increase leopard survival dramatically. We therefore stress the urgency to initiate actions, such as conflict mitigation programmes, to increase leopard survival in non-protected area