For the first time in years a leopard has been spotted in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. The sighting was caught on camera in the early hours of last weekend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reserve\u2019s manager, Lindsay Lewis, told Paarl Post it was the most exciting observation of the last six years. \u201cThis was the first confirmed sighting since the last footage of a leopard captured by the previous management of the reserve,\u201d he said. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cape mountain leopards are shy apex predators, the beauty of which was captured thanks to one of the trap-cameras in the reserve.\u201d Lewis said lots of excitement as well as apprehension had been expressed by hikers and cyclists visiting over the past couple of weeks, who had spotted paw prints on the reserve\u2019s trails. He further explained Cape mountain leopards are extremely shy and were unlikely to venture too close to civilisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey will not dwell too close to the urban buzz of the town, as they prefer quiet and secluded areas.\u201d The trap cameras were stationed in various areas within the reserve thanks to The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (Table Mountain Branch), in conjunction with the Drakenstein Municipality. These cameras are strategically placed to record sightings of all the habitat\u2019s species and predators roaming the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis says an array of wildlife has over the past few months been recorded thanks to these cameras, which shows Paarl Mountain\u2019s ecosystem is thriving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeannie Hayward, media liaison for The Cape Leopard Trust, says Paarl Mountain is a fringe habitat for leopards. \u201cPaarl Mountain is not contiguous with the main mountain ranges and is essentially an island of fynbos habitat within a sea of degraded land. These cats patrol massive territories of about 250\u2009km\u00b2 for a male, so an individual will not be on Paarl Mountain at all times, perhaps only visiting once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hayward said Western Cape leopards occur at a very low density and patrol huge home ranges. \u201cPaarl Mountain in itself is much too small (only around 40 km\u00b2), and will not sustain a \u2018population\u2019 of leopards. The individual recorded here would be part of the larger population of the Boland mountain chain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hayward added it is unlikely for a leopard to approach any hikers or cyclists on the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlthough one should obviously always be very cautious when encountering any predator, leopards in the Cape mountains are generally extremely wary of people and will readily retreat \u2013 except when threatened or cornered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSightings are rare and usually very brief. The leopard appears as if from nowhere, stands still for a few seconds, and then disappears into the fynbos once more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When encountering a leopard, Hayward says it is best to stay calm, stand very still and wait for it to move on. \u201cDo not run away or crouch down. If it does not back away and seems threatening, then a slow retreat without turning your back is the wisest thing to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny possible antagonistic behaviour is indicative of the cat trying to tell you to move away (it may be a female with cubs nearby), so don\u2019t linger and challenge it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, it is crucial to remember that throwing sticks or stones is not advisable unless in final self-defence, as this act in itself may provoke an attack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For the first time in years a leopard has been spotted in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. 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