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 ktp.leopards@gmail.com
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