Monthly newsletter - February 2024

Data collection & analysis, partnership building - latest news below!

I am excited to share the progress made in February with Ingwe Leopard Research. This month, I saw advancements in data collection, partnerships, and understanding leopard behavior. Keep reading to learn more and don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends and family using the buttons at the bottom!

Photo credit: Donovan Prince, Mjejane Nature Reserve

Data sharing on the rise!

• More Images Captured: Compared to last year, we have already collected more leopard images in January and February 2024. This is a fantastic trend that will contribute significantly to the research.

• Unveiling Connections: I am excited to analyze data from Selati Game Reserve, spanning three years! This data might reveal connections with leopards in neighboring reserves, highlighting potential habitat corridors or at the contrary, fragmentation. Stay tuned to see discover the first results!

Figure 1. Number of sighting images captured in 2023 and 2024. The February data from the Kruger National Park will be added next month only.

Leopard activity: beyond dawn and dusk

• Dawn & Dusk Patrols: The data, based on 4,572 sightings, confirms that leopards are most active at dawn (around 5 AM) and dusk (around 6 PM) throughout the year, aligning with existing research (see below)

  

  Figure 2. Diurnal and nocturnal leopard activity

• Seasonal Shifts: Interestingly, activity peaks shift slightly throughout the seasons. In summer, leopards are most active around 7 AM, while winter activity peaks earlier, between 5 and 6 AM. This is not what I initially expected, considering cooler summer mornings.

  

  Figure 3. Leopard activity according to season

• Beyond the Numbers: I am exploring the addition of environmental factors like rainfall and temperature to my graphs for a deeper understanding. Additionally, I'll consider how data collection methods (camera traps vs. observations) might influence the results.

• Unveiling the Full Picture: The next intern will delve deeper into the data, ultimately revealing a more complete picture of leopard activity patterns.

Building Strong Partnerships

• K2C Collaboration: I had a productive discussion with the Kruger 2 Canyon (K2C) UNESCO Biosphere Reserve regarding a potential partnership. They aim to secure and manage ecological corridors connecting the Greater Kruger to other nature reserves. Our data might be play a role in securing buy-in from their stakeholders and funders.

• Expanding Our Network: I reconnected with another organization (details to be revealed soon!) which confirmed their interest in joining Ingwe and contributing to our efforts. They will be filling a gap in the study area!

• Citizen Science Power: I connected with a PhD student working on the Pilanesberg Leopard ID project, utilizing citizen data from Facebook. Her work highlights the immense potential of citizen science. I am excited about the opportunity to replicate her work to fit Ingwe’s data.

Photo credit: Matthew Grossett, Thornybush

I am incredibly grateful for your continued support. Stay tuned for further updates and exciting discoveries in the coming months!

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