Keeping track of large carnivores can be a tricky business. Monitoring their safety and travel patterns in a way that doesn’t expose researchers to danger or influence the actions of the animals has always been a challenge. The answer to these problems seems to come from above – from aerial surveillance techniques.
Thanks to funding received from the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, the N/a’an ku se Research Programme was recently able to carry out the first two of several aerial monitoring sessions. Large carnivore species studied include cheetah, leopard, and brown hyena. The animals were observed roaming on three commercial farm properties located in central Namibia where frequent conflicts between farmers and predators are known to arise. It’s hoped that the data gained from the program will help to increase tolerance of large carnivores in their natural habitat. The fascinating operation was filmed by a South African film crew for Discovery Channel’s Africa chapter and the footage will be part of a series appearing on screens in March 2012.
At First Glance
The objectives of the first flight were to track and monitor large carnivores - and assess the abundance of available prey. Flying at a speed of 92 mph and an altitude of 295 feet, three crew members were given the task of recording all carnivore sightings. During the flight, the team spotted a coalition of two young male cheetahs roaming outside of their known area. Efforts are now underway to live-trap this cheetah coalition for fitting of GPS tracking collars to enable continued monitoring of their activities and movements on this area of farmland. In addition, researchers also found an abundant prey base for large predators – confirming the results of earlier ground surveys.
Right on Track
The second flight was for the purpose of relocating released large carnivores. Witnessed below were two female leopards that had previously been fitted with GPS tracking collars – and monitored for over a year before the batteries in the GPS units expired. Fortunately VHF units on both collars we’re still functioning, enabling radio tracking of the animals. With this new information, researchers were able to confirm that these young female leopards had settled permanently - and survived successfully in the wild for almost two years post release. Since the batteries in the ground unit GPS had failed earlier, this information could only be documented by this aerial monitoring.
A Friend in High Places
Other recent achievements by the organization include the rescue of eight cheetahs (two females with three cubs each) as well as a female leopard and a male serval which were recovered from conflict scenarios with Namibian landowners. The animals will be rehabilitated at the N/a’an ku se sanctuary and released with monitoring collars when they’re well enough. These animals will then become part of the aerial carnivore monitoring project.
Two more flights are scheduled before the end of the year – and the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is proud to support these efforts.
