WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK – In a historic conservation milestone, 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 – powerful sign of ecological recovery. The leopard had been extirpated from the region in the mid-1800s and has only recently returned naturally.
The image, captured by a remote camera trap, confirms that this elusive predator has recolonised a region from which it had long been absent. The discovery is the result of a collaborative effort between Landmark Leopard and Predator Project and South African National Parks (SANParks).
The University of the Western Cape, Saldanha Bay Municipality and multiple private landowners were also involved in the project, working together to monitor and protect the country’s recovering leopard populations.
The project has been running for several years on the West Coast between Cape Town and the Berg River.
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Conservationists attribute this extraordinary return to a combination of factors, including coordinated efforts by non-governmental organisations and conservation authorities, progressive changes in land use, protective environmental legislation, and growing tolerance and coexistence between local communities and wildlife. The development of conservation areas, such as the West Coast National Park, has also contributed.
Over the past two decades, the Landmark Leopard and Predator Project 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 such as leopards to move more freely and safely through the landscape.
A critical component of these efforts is the 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,” concluded Lauren Howard Clayton, SANParks regional communications manager for the Cape Region.
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