Supporting leopard and toad conservation

The most graceful of all the wild cat family, the leopard, is being helped by the Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF) that is lending a supportive hand to the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). 

The two Ford Rangers, which are provided to the Trusts for two years, enable the conservation teams to confidently complete their work which often involves travelling long distances and accessing remote areas.  

 

The CLT and EWT teams consist of passionate and enthusiastic members that have dedicated themselves to protecting threatened and endangered animal species. They have joined forces in a unique project that sees them working together to ensure the continued survival of the cape leopards and western leopard toads. By working together, the two organisations hope to improve awareness of two species that are important indicators of ecosystem health. 

“We really appreciate the support from the Ford Wildlife Foundation,” says Dr Kathryn Williams, Research and Conservation Director, Cape Leopard Trust. “The Ford Ranger allows us to improve our knowledge on the ecology, presence, and threats to both species in the Cape’s Overberg region.”

 

The project, affectionately named a Tale of Two Leopards, aims to investigate the presence of both the leopard and the leopard toad - an endangered amphibian named for its striking resemblance to a leopard - in order to ensure their survival, secure their habitat and prey base, and promote their coexistence with people. 

In addition to the Tale of Two Leopards projects, the Cape Leopard Trust is currently undertaking its largest ever camera survey, the first comprehensive such study of the Overberg. The camera survey seeks to improve knowledge of leopards in the Western Cape through a dedicated online app or data portal, which allows landowners, conservation NGO’s and local communities to become citizen scientists by reporting leopard sightings. 

Local community members can submit verifiable records of data, such as camera-trap photos, digital images of leopard signs such as droppings, scratch marks on trees or feeding sites and direct leopard observations to app.capeleopard.org.za. All submissions are kept anonymous.

 

“Broad-scale research is essential to conserve species that occupy large home ranges such as the leopard. It is extremely challenging for scientists to collect large quantities of data at this scale, but conservation stewards can help. Keep your eyes peeled for signs of this elusive cat and contribute your data to help us conserve leopards in the Western Cape,” says Dr Williams. 

For more than 30 years, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has actively been involved in the conservation of wildlife and ecosystems in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF), which was established in 2014, continues FMCSA’s long-standing support of conservation projects in Southern Africa through the provision of  4x4 Ranger Double Cabs to partner organisations. During the two-year loan period, the vehicles are monitored and serviced by Ford's extensive dealer network to ensure optimum performance and efficiency. 

For more information on the Ford Wildlife Foundation, visit the website: https://www.ford.co.za/about-ford/wildlife-foundation/

 Snakes Alive!

Arguably the most misunderstood reptiles on earth are snakes and, while sometimes dangerous to humans, their first reaction is to get out of the way – not attack. 

Tomorrow (July 16) is World Snake Day and the Ford Wildlife Foundation is heavily involved in research and conservation projects dealing with snakes, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal where FWF ambassador, Gabriel Sithole, drives his Ranger to far-flung areas that are sometimes only accessible by 4x4. 

Besides being a passionate wildlife photographer, Sithole is helping to change the perception around snakes by educating communities. 

“Snakes are misunderstood reptiles,” he says. “When people see a snake, they immediately think it is going to bite them, but this is completely untrue. Snakes are in fact extremely wary of humans and are not prone to strike if unprovoked. A bite is generally their last-ditch effort to protect themselves. Snakes are also great at controlling undesired populations of mice and rats which can become a health risk.”

                                                            Black Mamba

“The number of snake encounters has shot up because we are encroaching on these reptiles’ natural habitat, a trend confirmed by BioWeb. Settlements at city outskirts often don’t have proper waste removal services and this is a contributing factor in attracting mice and the rats.” 

Sithole has some advice to mitigate one’s chance of coming into contact with snakes, and what to do if you get bitten by a snake. 

“Besides removing waste, rubbish and keeping your garden clean, make sure to watch where you walk and look carefully before taking each step. Many of the narrow paths in grassland areas are where rats and mice run up and down and this also attracts snakes, typically ambushers like puff adders.

                                                              Forest Cobra

“Get familiar with a snake handler in your area – save their number on your phone – and do not try and handle any snake by yourself. It’s also a good idea to know the types of venomous snakes that live in your area. This will help you identify them and give the hospital the right information to prepare an anti-venom should you be in the unfortunate situation of being bitten. And lastly, keep calm at all times.” 

Lynda du Plessis, manager of the Ford Wildlife Foundation, adds: “The Ranger thrives in the rugged conditions in which FWF ambassadors like Gabriel work. This often entails long distances, heavy loads and rough terrain.

“The Ranger is, therefore, a crucial enabler for the wildlife and conservation staff at the more than 25 projects we support. Having a capable vehicle such as the Ranger helps them access often remote and difficult-to-reach areas of the country to do their important environmental work. Gabriel leads by example and we are grateful for his passion and commitment in removing the irrational fear around these misunderstood reptiles.”