Citizens asked to be big cat spotters

A research project aimed at addressing the lack of scientific data on the status of leopards and other selective predator species in South Africa is being launched by the private hunting and safari sector in conjunction with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

The project, headed up by TUT’s big predator behaviour specialist, Dr Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni, is the brainchild of the Limpopo Hunters’ Liaison Forum (LHLF).

They are channelling it through the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa’s Conservation Research Fund, which forms part of its Hunters Care initiative.

This is where the hunting and safari sector, together with TUT, can play an integral role.

Over the years, the LHLF’s webbased data programme, Catspotter, has proved to be a successful data-capturing tool.

The LHLF made some improve ments to accommodate and meet the South African Biodiversity Institute’s (Sanbi) data collection requirements.

For scientific data to be considered for inclusion in nondetrimental findings, Sanbi stipulates that all video footage or photographic images should clearly identify, illustrate and confirm the presence of free-roaming leopards in the area (for example, spoor, leopard hair on prey) and have the correct date and GPS coordinates on it.

“It is easy to upload photos or videos on to www.catspotter.co.za.

And don’t despair if you don’t have a camera that indicates dates and times or GPS coordinates, we have a drag and drop tool that you can use to assign the exact location of the sighting and/or add the relevant dates and times,” said Phillip Bronkhorst of the LHLF.

Anything from trail cam photos to simple cell or smartphone images can be uploaded, as long as it meets Sanbi’s criteria above.

“The fact that citizen science can be included makes the project unique, thorough, all-inclusive and exciting,” said Maruping-Mzileni.

“Any member of the public with the relevant scientific data at their disposal can contribute.” – Caxton News Service