Modern Weights and Measurements of Leopards

[Pckts]

Tracking leopards with GPS collars in South Africa

The collars are set to take a position five times a day and I attempt to locate the animals once a month to download all the stored locations.

Both collared leopards are males.  The first, M26, is approximately three-years-old, weighs 55 kg, and was captured on the 24/6/05. At this age he would almost certainly still be a transient individual; ranging over a large area, avoiding adult resident males and looking for a territory in which to possibly settle.  We have received 197 fixes (Figure 2) from the first two months of data.  Home range size using a 95% Fixed Kernel Analysis is 58km2 (Figure 3). Interestingly, his home range appears to be relatively linear in shape, stretching from southern boundary all the way up through the central portion of the reserve.  He has not yet moved out of the Conservancy.

The second male, M25, was initially captured on the 2/6/05 and a VHF radio-collar placed on him. We recaptured him on the 5/7/05 and the VHF collar was exchanged for a GPS collar.  Judging from tooth wear, he is older than M26 (estimated between four and six years), although he only weighed one kilogram more.  We have downloaded 134 locations (Figure 1) from the collar and he is using a home range of approximately 57km2 (Figure 2).  This area is predominantly made up of the mountainous regions in the south and the west of the park, though he has crossed out of the Conservancy on at least one occasion into a neighbouring Zulu community.

Figure 1. Camera trap photograph of male leopard M26 taken on the 23/7/05.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Taking measurements of male leopard M25 prior to placing on GPS collar 1883

*This image is copyright of its original author

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