First leopard spotted in SA national park in 170 years
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced a
historic conservation milestone, reporting that a leopard has been photographed
in the West Coast National Park for the first time in 170 years.
“This landmark sighting marks the natural return of the species to South Africa’s coastal landscapes a powerful sign of ecological recovery.
“The leopard had been extirpated as a species in the mid-1800s and only in the last while naturally returned,” said SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the image, captured by a remote camera trap, confirms that this elusive predator has recolonised a region from which it had long been absent.
Louw said the discovery is the result of a collaborative effort between Landmark Leopard and Predator Project SANParks, together with the University of the Western Cape, Saldanha Bay Municipality and multiple private landowners, working together to monitor and protect the country’s recovering leopard populations.
“The project has been running for the last few years on the West Coast between Cape Town and the Berg River,” he said.
Louw said conservationists attribute this extraordinary return to a combination of factors, including coordinated efforts by NGOs and conservation authorities, progressive changes in land use (and the development of conservation areas, like the West Coast National Park), protective environmental legislation, and a growing tolerance and coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
According to the SANParks statement, over the past two decades, The Landmark Leopard and Predator Project and other stakeholders have worked to restore ecological corridors and reconnect fragmented habitats across the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape.
“These efforts have allowed wildlife like leopards to move more freely and safely through the landscape.
“A critical component to these efforts is tolerance and coexistence of landowners and the implementation of wildlife protection legislation, which has been evident in the area.
“The return of the leopard to the West Coast National Park underscores the success of long-term conservation partnerships and highlights the importance of continued collaboration to ensure that this remarkable recovery endures. This result is worthy of celebration,” Louw said.
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