AWF Blog

• Next Steps for Leopard Collaring

  Posted: January 27, 2009, 9:53 pm by Nakedi

  After losing the collared leopard I spent the week moving cage traps to other areas in the hope of capturing two other leopards to collar for research. During that period I worked with some of the guys from Singita’s guiding department. This was a very good exercise as I could see how well those guys know their area; it was as if they knew each tree or grass at a personal level.

  We successfully moved two cages on the first day and the last cage two days later due to the rain. The thing with setting traps is that we have to look for trees with big NO LION signs on them. These trees as you can imagine have to be almost impossible to climb and much worse, to place a cage trap on them. Sometimes we have to climb these trees in the process. So when it rains the bark becomes slippery making it a tricky business to climb.

  I remember falling hard the other day after baiting one of the traps. Of course we use ladders, but on that fateful day I tried to see firsthand how they did it during the stone ages. NOT A SMART THING TO DO!!

  I will start baiting traps in a few days time and hopefully we will have a successful run and capture two leopards next week. The picture below illustrates how high some of the cages have to be placed.

• Lions Killed in the Maasai Steppe

  Posted: January 21, 2009, 4:00 pm by Paul

  Two lions were speared to death in the Maasai Steppe Heartland, and two others escaped but were badly injured. Bernard Kissui, AWF’s lion researcher in this part of northern Tanzania, reports:

  “While on our routine lion tracking activities in the morning of 29th Dec. 2008 we found the remains of a collared female lion from our study pride called Altipiano. We named this female Jazlin. Jazlin was speared to death the previous day about 3km inside Tarangire Park’s Northwestern border. The remains had multiple spear wounds all over the body.

  A research lion killed in retaliation for killing a cow.

  “We visited the nearby Minjingu village and got 2 information about a second lion that was speared to death. This was a young male about 3.5 years old from the same pride. Two other lions were fortunate to escape the killing, but they were probably injured, and we have not been able to determine their fate.”

  According to reports from Minjingu village, the killings were were prompted after the lions attacked a cow and calf. Both cow and calf survived, but the calf died a few hours after the incident.

  A total of 12 lions were killed in retaliation for livestock predation during 2008 alone. The killing of lions resulting from human-wildlife conflict is pummeling the entire lion population. In Bernard’s study area, lions numbers have declined by 15-20% over the past five years.

  Bernard writes: “As the human population increases in the Maasai Steppe, migratory lions are forced to navigate through an increasingly complex maze of human settlement and livestock. Under these circumstances livestock predation might be expected to escalate. Concerted effort by all stakeholders in wildlife conservation is therefore needed to resolve this complex problem.”

  In response, Bernard is working with livestock keepers to reduce lion predation. Using chain-link fencing to reinforce the enclosures, or bomas, where the livestock is kept at night, has shown to be quiet effective against predators. Bernard says there is great interest among pastoralists to participate in this program.

  One of the predator proof bomas to help reduce lion predation on livestock.

• The Leopard’s Final Days

  Posted: January 15, 2009, 6:36 pm by Nakedi

  Sunday January 11th – Tuesday January 13th: The last days

  After Saturday the collared leopard moved 10 km south towards Satara and rested near a culvert, he probably used the road for protection from other carnivores as he was heavily compromised.

  He stayed on the side of the road during which time I monitored him closely. His condition deteriorated daily. On Tuesday he was at his worst condition, even in a number of disturbances including the rain, he just slept on the same spot without moving. He looked so bad that I had difficulties looking at him.

  The veterinary scientists came later that afternoon to euthanize the leopard and took him back to Skukuza. There was no struggle!

  Wednesday January the 14th: Post-mortem

  The post-mortem on that morning suggested that the porcupine quills led to his rapid decline in condition combined with septicaemia from the quill-inflicted injuries.

  A tip of one of the quills was still stuck deep into his forehead, and in addition he had several tips spread across his neck, chest, front legs and hind legs. One of the quills, the one that dealt him the most severe blow, penetrated the chest cavity and in the process collapsed the lungs. One of the lungs had a lesion, which is suspected to be of the tuberculosis family, but still has to undergo further tests. The liver also looked like it had some kind of viral hepatitis, which also needs follow-up tests. The kidneys had numerous small lesions, suggesting that they did not function properly.

  All these suggested that the leopard was old and had multiple infections. I asked if the collar might have added to the leopard’s condition, but the vets said that the collar was not a problem.

  Now we cannot say with confidence whether he was still in his territory or was kicked out by a younger stronger competitor. He was more than 30 km away from what we thought was his core area. This is a major set back to the project, but that is how life is here in the bush.

  We take the good with the bad.

• Between the Bonobos and the Snake: the Night Settles

  Posted: January 15, 2009, 2:53 pm by Valentin

  On the third of December 2008 at 12:30 p.m, we left the camp to go to the forest to look for bonobos as usual. We were four teams among which Papa Charment, Gladez and myself took the lead; while Papa Bosco, Isaac and Medos each made one team.

  We arrived at Transect K 1250 meters at 4:30 p.m. We heard the cry of bonobos 200 meters to the north; some minutes later another group - not as loud as the first - cried to the West and at the same time a third group cried to the South-West.

  Hearing this, we decided to follow the first group on the grounds that this group seemed to have more individuals taking into account the vocalizations we hear. Following that group we found ourselves between the transects K and L in the direction East-West and F and G in the direction North-South.

  At 6 p.m. night came and we were still unable to find the bonobos; we began to look for our way home but in vain. Meanwhile, Isacc joined us. He also heard the same group of bonobos and followed them to their night nests but finally lost his way home as did we.

  So, together we began looking for the way home and it was at 8:15 p.m that we found the way.

  When we arrived at K 1150 meters from the camp, we heard someone calling us, which is common in African customs: if someone hasn’t returned from the forest by sunset, others must go look for them.

  When we arrived at K 750 meters, we met Papa Bosco, the oldest of all trackers. Without delay, he asked us why we were in the forest so late. Papa Charment, the tracker who led our team, explained to him that we got lost while we looked for the bonobos.

  Papa Bosco, reacting to the news, told us this day had been no better for them. Medos, who heard bonobos and followed them, had his full attention focused on the bonobos and stepped on a green mamba which, in order to defend itself, tried to bit Medos. To escape the bite of the snake, Medos, trying to escape, fell on a tree trunk and strained his ribs.

  When we arrived at our landmark at Transect A 900 meters, we found Medos lying and we helped him walk slowly towards the camp. At 8:58 p.m. at 750 meters, we heard the call of another person in the forest; this time it was our cook Joseph Kungulu. Having waited in vain for us to return to camp, he decided to come search for us. Usually we arrive at the camp at 7:30 p.m. at the latest. After meeting Joseph Kungulu, we all returned to the camp at 9:27 p.m. Very tired, we had our meal and we went to bed.

  The following day at 4:00 a.m. as usual, we went back to the forest to observe the bonobos in their nests in spite of the uncertainty of finding the bonobos in their net site. Fortunately, we found the bonobos in their nests and made a good observation: there were 7 adults (4 females and 3 males) with two young.

  Today, the snake and the night interfered between us and bonobos; what next tomorrow? A Leopard? An elephant? Or something else?

  Baby bonobo. Photo by Gladez Shorland.

  Mother and young. Photo by Gladez Shorland.

  -

  En francais:

  Entre les bonobos et le serpent : la nuit tranche

  Ce 3 décembre 2008 vers 12h30 minutes, nous quittons le camp pour aller dans la forêt chercher les bonobos comme d’habitude. Nous étions 4 équipes dont Papa Charment, Gladez et moi la première ; Papa Bosco, Isacc et Medos constituaient chacun une équipe.

  Lorsque nous sommes arrivés sur le layon K1250 mètres à 16h30, nous avons écouté les cris des bonobos à environ 200 mètres au nord, quelques 3 minutes après, un autre groupe avec moins des cris que le premier a émis les cris vers l’ouest et au même moment un troisième groupe émet aussi les cris vers le Sud-ouest.

  Face à ces cris, nous avons décidé de suivre le premier groupe pour la simple la raison que ce groupe paraitrait être composé de beaucoup d’individus suivant les cris entendus. En suivant ce groupe, nous nous sommes retrouvés entre les layons K et L dans la direction est-ouest et F et G dans la direction nord-Sud.

  A 18h00, pendant que la nuit est arrivée sans que nous puissions voir ces bonobos, nous nous sommes mis à chercher le chemin de retour mais en vain. Pendant ce temps, Isaac nous rejoint ; lui aussi a écouté le même groupe des bonobos et les a suivis jusqu’à les accompagnés  jusqu’aux nids mais a  en fait perdu comme nous le chemin de retour au camp.

  Ainsi, nous nous sommes tous mis à chercher le chemin de retour et  c’est à 20h15 minutes que nous avons retrouvé ce chemin ; c’était alors le croisement des layons de K et G au niveau de 4 kilomètres du camp et ainsi, nous avons emprunté le layon K en direction du campement.

  Lorsque nous sommes arrivés au niveau de K1150 mètres du campement, nous avons entendu la voie d’une personne qui était entrain de nous appeler comme cela a toujours été le cas dans la coutume africaine que l’on doit suivre celui qui est allé en forêt et ne revient pas jusqu’au tombée du soleil. Ainsi, arriver au niveau de K750 mètres nous avons rencontré Papa Bosco, le plus vieux de tous les pisteurs qui était à notre recherche. Sans tarder, il nous posa la question de savoir ce qui nous est arrivé dans la forêt pour être en forêt jusque tard la nuit. Papa Charment, le pisteur qui conduisait notre équipe prenant la parole et lui expliqua notre égarement lors de la poursuite des bonobos.

  Papa Bosco reprenant la parole et dit : cette journée n’a pas été meilleure pour nous car il y a Medos qui a écouté les bonobos et en les suivant, comme toute son attention était concentrée aux bonobos, il a marché sur le serpent mamba vert qui pour se défendre, il chercha à mordre Medos. Pour s’échapper à la morsure de mamba vert, Medos prena fuite et comme le malheur ne vient jamais seul, il tomba sur un tronc d’arbre et eu un choque au niveau des côtes. Je l’ai lassé longé sur le layon A à 900 mètres se tordre des douleurs finit pas Bosco.

  Quand nous sommes Arrivés à notre repère sur le layon A900 mètres, nous avons trouvé Medos allongé le long du layon et nous l’avons pris pour marcher lentement vers le camp. Tous ensemble à 20h58 minutes au niveau de A750 mètres, nous avons écouté les cris d’une autre personne dans la forêt; cette fois là, c’était notre cuisinier Joseph Kingulu qui après avoir attendu en vain notre retour au camp, a décidé de venir à notre recherche car il était déjà 21h05 minutes alors que d’habitude on arrive au camp à 19h30 au plus tard. Après la rencontre de Joseph Kungulu, nous avons tous regagné le camp à 21h27 minutes ; nous avons pris notre repas malgré nous c’est-à-dire en état de fatigue et sommes allés au lit.

  Le lendemain matin à 4h00, comme d’habitude, nous avons repris le chemin de la forêt pour observer ces bonobos à leurs nids malgré l’incertitude de retrouver le site de nids et ne pas voir ces bonobos. Heureusement, nous avons trouvé les bonobos dans leurs nids et avions fait des bonnes observations : il y avait 7 adultes (4 femelles et 3 mâles) avec 2 enfants.

  Aujourd’hui, ce sont le serpent et la nuit qui s’interposent entre nous et les bonobos, demain ça sera quoi ? Le léopard ? L’éléphant ? Ou autre chose ? A suivre au fil du temps.

• The Collared Leopard Not Doing Well - Will He Make It?

  Posted: January 12, 2009, 11:14 am by Nakedi

  The collared leopard is not healthy!

  Three weeks ago when I went away on holiday I went out on a few occasions together with the tracking team to track the collared leopard. He seemed to be doing well, but sometimes he looked a bit hungry. At that point I thought he might have been struggling to catch food.

  This was also explained by his constant movements; that is, he had been moving constantly for a number of days. Naturally, this means he was not killing anything big, like an impala for instance. If he would bring an impala down, then he would hang around that area for a number of days before moving on.

  A thought arises therefore that the dry season might have kept him going due to a high number of weak prey. Before he was trapped in the cage trap, he visited the cage on three occasions before finally giving in to the temptation, further prompting me to think of him as a struggling leopard.

  Then it was time for the impala to drop their young. That could have been providing him with easy food from the hidden impala lambs. I therefore left with the thought that he preferred to feed on smaller animals like impala lambs for instance, which explained his constant movement.

  Getting back to our head office in Johannesburg on Thursday January 08th, I called Dr. Sam Ferreira, the Large Mammal Community and Species of Concern Scientist, who also oversees this current project from SANParks, to inform him that I was back and ready to expand the project since we received 20 additional camera traps.

  Before I could tell him anything he told me about this collared leopard that looked old which had seen around the Satara area by some tourists. Apparently this leopard was in a very bad shape and to make things worse he had a number of porcupine quills stuck in to his face and neck region.

  Sam didn’t have a lot of information, so he suggested I call Dr. Markus Hofmeyr, the Director of Game Capture Unit to confirm. The thought of starting the New Year with a bang started dwindling.

  I managed to get hold of Dr. Hofmeyr that evening and he told me that he thought the animal needed attention as the quills prevented him from hunting. After our conversation my holiday plans for the rest of the week were wiped out into oblivion. My plans were to:
  1.    Arrange to bring a mobile cell phone tower to the study site because of poor reception in the area, which makes it difficult to obtain data from collared animals;
  2.    Plan the activities of the year and engage my superiors in the process. Talking to them in person beats e-mail and telephone conversations by far;
  3.    Get most of the administration stuff sorted;
  4.    Play some basketball;
  5.    Go clubbing. I wanted to go dancing just once before heading to the bush!
  6.    Go to the Transvaal Museum (now called the Northern Flagship Institute) to work on some things there; and
  7.    Take the broken cameras to Pretoria to try and get them fixed.

  These plans were then replaced by the new plan: Pack your stuff and go to work!!

  That evening I packed my staff, went to the office to fetch the research vehicle and headed to the Kruger National Park, but not without fuelling the car first and getting myself lots of coffee and four Red Bulls!

  And so I drove for the whole night and by 04:00am I was at the Kruger Gate. When the gates were opened I made my way to Singita Kruger National Park, got the tracking devices and headed to Satara to hear what the problem was.

  I first ran in to the hospitality manager there and he said he had heard the problem was with a cheetah and not a leopard. I was relieved for a second, but something told me that maybe the hospitality manager was not a very good source of information. My thoughts:
  1.    Leopards and cheetahs are the same thing to a lot of tourists.
  2.    Some of my friends still think I work with cheetahs, what a shame!
  3.    The poor guy has to deal with visitors (who probably gave him this information by the way) all day, give him a break.
  4.    Try the section ranger and hear what she says, and then you can celebrate.

  The section ranger confirmed it was indeed a leopard, burying my short-lived excitement. She told me in which direction the leopard was last seen and even suggested I go with one of the guards. The guard and I then headed off to find the leopard. Arriving at the area where he was believed to be I tried his frequency on the telemetry equipment.
  Results: it was his frequency.

  We then actively searched the area and when we found him he looked extremely emaciated. He looked (and still does), like he had not eaten in days. “No wonder some people called him a cheetah,” I thought. This made me sad. He didn’t have the quills on his neck and face anymore. This gave me hope that he might still recover. I’m fighting the urge to show you his pictures.

  I then called Dr. Hofmeyr, who came through yesterday (Saturday) morning to have a closer look at the animal. He looked bad, with a swollen face and neck, obviously from the porcupine quills. At that point, I thought how desperate must he have been to attack a porcupine? Is it because he is struggling to catch impalas (and impala lambs)? Dr. Hofmeyr told me that the prognosis of the leopard was not good at all, but he might just make it although he was heavily compromised at that stage.

  We then had a choice to make: dart the leopard, treat him for the swelling, remove the collar, and let him go or leave him as he is and let him recover on his own. Choosing the former would mean that with his condition we ran the risk of losing him to the anaesthetic. Taking the latter would mean that I will have to monitor him on a daily basis and see what would happen. Here we run the risk that should he not make it and hyenas get to him before I do, all the information from the collar would be lost for good.  We chose to let him be and monitor his progress on a daily basis.

  In all that bewilderment there were a lot of people who got to see the poor leopard in his frail state. Most of the people were really concerned about the leopard and were (and still are) willing to share their photos of him. I am really sad that he got to be seen in that state, but it happens.

  I am as a result monitoring him on a daily basis to see his progress.

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes