Modern Weights and Measurements of Leopards

[Pckts]

From AfriCat Namibia:

JAGU GETS A NEW COLLAR
A couple of months ago Jagu’s (AKA JAGUAR) collar started malfunctioning.

‘Technology’ still the main challenge when you try and research carnivores over a period of many years – the constant malfunctioning collars are a headache and can often be the reason a carnivore is ‘lost’, moving out of range or not found again for some reason, due to a collar’s signal that cannot be picked up by the trackers/researchers before its ‘expire date’ – either from the ground or from the air?

A researchers ‘nightmare’, mainly because a collar needs to be removed if the cat can no longer be monitored closely!! The constant darting does make some predators more and more suspicious and to re-collar an intelligent animal becomes a cat-&-mouse-game between researcher and carnivore...

Sometimes they suddenly stop transmitting because of a fight between 2 large carnivores or from a knock/kick from prey during a hunt or worst case scenario which luckily does not often happen - the odd, disgruntled farmer or hunter that shoots the monitored animal and destroys the collar by burying it or burning it or smashing the units to pieces. . . . however sometimes its just ‘failing technology’!

Jagu was collard last year in September. He was called Jagu due to his big dark spot patterns, similar to a ‘jaguar’ spot pattern and because he is a very large male. On Thursday night 13 October he walked into the bated boxtrap and was caught. Dr. Rodenwoldt did the darting. He weighed in at 64kg. Only 1 kilogram less than last year when he was collard.

After he was collard last year he was very shy, but this year has become more and more tolerant of human company and during the past few months the Okonjima guides have been getting beautiful sightings of him, sleeping hunting marking his territory –just being a very independent, confident, territorial male.

Sadly last week he was responsible for the death of one of our absolute favourite females – SHANTI.

A shock to all. When carnivores kill each other for no apparent reason, we find ourselves questioning their behavior and reasoning – yet again realizing just how little we understand of the carnivore world!

#AfriCat #Namibia #leopard #research #wildlifeconservation #survival #nonprofit #Okonjima
https://goo.gl/NLJsP0
https://www.facebook.com/AfriCatNamibiaHQ/posts/1830006200567946

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KIBO
Named after one of the three dormant volcanic cones situated on Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya. He was collared at the Birding dam on the day of the presidential election.

Weight: 69 kg
Body length: 105 cm
Shoulder height: 78 cm
Upper canine: 3.6 cm; lower canine: 3.5 cm

Good condition, approx. 4 years old. Regularly captured on camera traps during the Okonjima AfriCat Leopard Density Study.

Based on home range analysis of the camera trap appearances, Pp 11-aka - KIBO has covered 71km2, the largest area of all captured individuals ranging from the very south-east to the northern part of the Okonjima Nature Reserve.

We are excited to have him part of the research project & cannot wait to get to know him better!

#HappyFriday 
#AfriCat #Namibia #leopard #research #wildlifeconservation #education #Okonjima #bigcats
https://goo.gl/AnSrzX

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