The Cape Leopard Trust this week released early findings from its latest large-scale camera trap study, offering a rare glimpse into one of the Western Cape’s most elusive apex predators across the Boland Mountain Complex.
Stretching from Bainskloof in the north to the Kogelberg coast in the south, the survey covered nearly 2 500 km² of rugged mountain landscape and involved 90 paired camera stations across nature reserves, state land and 29 privately-owned properties.
A decade of monitoring pays off
The Cape Leopard Trust first mapped the region’s leopard population between 2010 and 2012, establishing a baseline for long-term monitoring. After a smaller trial in 2020, this year’s project followed the original design to provide the most comparable set of findings to date.
Over a period of five months field teams braved damaged roads, 25-km hikes and the increasing presence of illegal activity in mountain reserves. Eight camera stations were stolen during the study, along with memory cards containing invaluable information. The losses are linked to trespassing, snaring, hunting with dogs and illegal harvesting of plants.
“The financial loss is massive, but the loss of leopard information from those sites is devastating,” the Trust said. The pattern raises concern for the species and the broader ecological health of the Boland mountains.
A treasure trove of wildlife images
Despite these setbacks the survey produced more than 190 000 photographs uploaded to the Trust’s Wild ID system. So far, 22 mammal species have been identified, including Cape fox, African striped weasel and grey rhebuck. The cameras also captured bird species such as spotted eagle owl and Cape rockjumper.
But the greatest highlight was the leopards themselves.
The survey recorded 647 leopard images, with leopards appearing at 72% of all camera sites. Using the Argus Wild AI system and manual confirmation researchers have identified 38 individual leopards to date. These include 22 males, 11 females and five of unknown sex. At least two females were seen with cubs.
Some of these animals are familiar to researchers and landowners. One of them is BF 15, also known as Stella, who has held her territory on Simonsberg since 2010. Her continued presence shows how landowners’ camera trap submissions support long term monitoring efforts.
Once the processing of information is complete, researchers will calculate leopard density and compare it with earlier results.
Inspiring the next generation
The Trust’s education team also reached seven local schools during the field survey.
They delivered 42 environmental lessons to more than 1 800 learners.
A field officer joined some sessions to share local camera trap photos and stories of working with wildlife in their area.
A community effort
The Cape Leopard Trust expressed its appreciation to its funders, partners and landowners who opened their properties to the project. Cape Nature played a key role by providing field rangers and students to assist the research teams.
As work continues, the Trust hopes the findings will deepen scientific understanding of leopard populations in the Boland and draw attention to the urgent need to tackle illegal activity that threatens the region’s biodiversity.
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