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The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) was established with the primary objective of facilitating and promoting research and conservation of the Cape’s predator diversity. The conservation strategies include inter alia; several bio-geographical research projects on leopards and their habitat as well as providing advisory services relating to farmer-predator interactions. A key aim of the project is to foster environmental education, particularly of children.
The CLT was launched in August 2004 as an active predator conservation organisation in the Cape and is registered as an NGO, IT 2720/2004. From the outset the objectives of the Trust have revolved around adopting the Cape leopard as a ‘flagship species', to study, understand and highlight the plight of these animals, and other threatened predators, and to find effective and sustainable ways to alleviate the devastating problems of human-wildlife conflict. Quinton Martins, who founded the project, is currently completing his PHD on the ecology of the Cape leopards, through the University of Bristol. Evidence thus far shows that the Cape leopards differ from leopards elsewhere and may well be a sub-species, though this is still to be confirmed. The CLT uses the results of research to convince farmers to alter their attitudes towards ‘problem animals’ and find more effective livestock management techniques. To date, research has taken place primarily in the Cederberg Mountains, where the project is based, but the CLT also runs projects in the Gouritz Corridor, Boland Mountains (2010) and Namaqualand.
In 2009 we started an innovative educational component of the CLT, focusing on environmental education for children. The Education and Outreach Programme, run by Elizabeth Martins, provides experiential and meaningful environmental education for children, teaching them more about the wilderness and themselves. The education programme includes environmental school and family group camps in the Cederberg; weekly environmental appreciation/education excursions with children from local farm schools; and school presentations on the Cape Leopard and other wildlife of the Western Cape. We are also in the process of creating a self-development course for women, where the leopard will be a central metaphor.
The Cape Leopard Trust is based at Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve in the Cederberg, and works in partnership with the Cederberg Conservancy and CapeNature in its efforts to conserve our natural heritage.
For more information on the Cape Leopard Trust go to:
www.capeleopard.org.za
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