Augrabies Falls
Transcription
Augrabies Falls
Augrabies Falls Leopard Identification Matthew Schurch Augrabies Falls National Park Leopard Identification Dr Matthew Schurcha (AstroMatt), Dr Susie Cunningham, SANParks Forum 15th October 2013 This guide is to aid in the identification of the Augrabies Falls National Park leopards. It has been compiled from sightings reported in the SANParks online forum, emails from the public and by the authors. It is an extension of the project currently being run the the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP), if you are also visiting the KTP and are interested in the leopards there, then please ask at the camp reception desks for the KTP guide. Careful attention has been made to ensure that no duplicate leopards are presented through the thorough comparison of the spot patterns of all the leopards. A combination of facial markings (spots, and whisker patterns) and side rosettes have been used for all identifications. Where possible pictures representing the sides of the head and body are presented as well as a frontal facial picture. The reported details (age, sex, paternity, offspring, and range etc.) have been summarised from that reported, some of this information is well confirmed whilst some is more speculative. The range indicators should only be used as an indicator to help guide the identification process, they are not definitive and will be constantly updatedb . Additional photos of each leopard can be found on the SANParks forumc . These can be used to aid in the at home identification process as they present different angles and perspectives. When using this guide you should try and locate a particularly noticeable set of spots which form a unique pattern that you find easy to see. Focus on the head and face or on the sides of the body. Use these spots as the main comparison with the guide pictures. After you feel you have located the spots, either extrapolate out from this group or check another area of the leopard, till the identification is certain. If you spot a leopard in Augrabies Falls National Park then we would be grateful if you could report the sighting. We hope that with sufficient reports we can produce a scientific study of this population of leopards. Please report the sighting on the project webpaged , providing the date, time and location (including GPS coordinates if you have them) of the sighting and a brief description of the behaviour. If a positive ID has been made then please provide one identifying photo, preferably uncropped and at original resolution (feel free to add more on the forum if you like). This information, along with photos (no matter the quality) will be a welcome addition to our database and will hopefully allow us to build up a more complete picture of the particular leopard’s life and range. If an identification is unsuccessful then please provide a selection of images. If you have a photo that is clearer than one presented in this guide then we would be happy to consider using it in future releases. In the interest of safety and enjoyment for everyone we would like to remind everyone who reads this not to break any park rules when trying to identify leopards. If you have any questions relating to the project then please feel free to contact me on the email address below. Now get identifying! Matthew a [email protected] b Full maps of the park are available at the camp reception desks. c http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=18567 d http://www.ast.uct.ac.za/∼schurch/leopards/ c Cover photograph Mario Titus 2013 c Matthew Schurch 2013 KTP Leopards 1 Leopards Sighted within the last 2 years 1.1 AL-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 AL-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 4 6 1 1.1 Leopards Sighted within the last 2 years AL-1 Sex: Male Born: Unknown First Sighted: 17th September 2012 Last Sighted: 17th September 2012 Range: Swartrante Mother: Unknown Father: Unknown Offspring: General Info: c SANParks 2004-2013 c Jane Hendrickse 17/09/2012 c Jane Hendrickse 17/09/2012 c Jane Hendrickse 17/09/2012 4 c Jane Hendrickse 17/09/2012 c Jane Hendrickse 17/09/2012 5 1.2 AL-2 Sex: Female Born: Unknown First Sighted: 11th November 2012 Last Sighted: 20th September 2013 Range: Oranjekom to Berghut Mother: Unknown Father: Unknown Offspring: General Info: c SANParks 2004-2013 c Mario Titus 26/05/2013 c Mario Titus 26/05/2013 c Mario Titus 26/05/2013 6 c Mario Titus 26/05/2013 c Mario Titus 26/05/2013 7 Acknowledgements Special thanks should go to the generous forumites that clubbed together to purchase a camera for Augrabies Falls guides to use on the game drives. Without this camera we would have far fewer photographs of the leopards that are in this guide. The people listed here have all contributed to this guide. Mario Titus, Jane Hendrickse & Mia Scheeberger 8