Source: https://www.republikein.com.na/nuus/luiperds-loop-wyer-draaie2019-11-29/
Leopards making wider turns
Feedback on census
A census survey shows a strong increase in the distribution of Namibia's leopards.
These predators are also now found where scientists have not previously discovered them.
At the same time, researchers believe that although the estimate of the total leopard population is lower than in 2011, leopard numbers have not decreased and the opposite is the case.
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) prof. Morgan Hauptfleisch was speaking at the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha )'s 46th annual meeting this week. He said that although leopards in Namibia are currently estimated at 11,733, while according to the 2011 study it was 14,154, that does not indicate a decrease.
"It is rather a correction of the previous number. Remember, the study also found human-animal conflict and the spread of leopards increased, and people maintain the perception that leopard numbers are rising.
“The media initially reported a decrease in leopard numbers. It is not only wrong, but also irresponsible.
“We were able to refine the data in the past study and therefore the estimate is lower. In addition, this study had luxuries such as enough money, which meant we could collect much more data in the field.
"At the same time, our knowledge of carnivores has improved significantly over the past five years," Hauptfleisch explained.
He said the leopard census used hundreds of camera traps nationwide, as well as surveys completed by just under 400 landowners.
The camera traps took more than 7 million photos.
QUOTAS
An analysis was also made of the trophy leopards that have been hunted over the past ten years, as reported to the Ministry of the Environment and Tourism.
“Namibia grants a hunting quota of 250 permits for leopards annually. This means that we allow 1.8% of the current leopard population to be utilized.
“Strictly speaking, we should only allow 211 to be hunted annually, but when we look at the number of leopards that are hunted annually, it is much less. Over the past ten years we have not been able to fill the quota of 250 leopards per year.
“The reason for this is, among other things, that the areas where leopards run are very large - especially as far as leopard males are concerned.
“So when a hunting quota is given for a specific farm, it is very restrictive, because the predators move across numerous farms.
This is one of the biggest reasons why leopard hunting is often unsuccessful.
“So I suggest not reducing the hunting quota. Another suggestion is that a hunting permit be issued for leopards that is valid over a larger area, rather than on individual farms, ”Hauptfleisch said.
FARM OWNERS
Hauptfleisch says a total of 85% of landowners who participated in the leopard census indicated that the predators did occur on their farms.
“Many farm owners believe leopard numbers are rising. Data shows that leopards were the second leading cause of human-animal conflict, with foxes being first on the list over the past two years, ”he said.
Leopards are now also spreading across the country.
“The previous survey shows leopards have almost never been found in the Kalahari parts of the country, while the latest survey shows they now have a medium to high presence there.
“In areas that used to be a medium to high density of leopards, even more are now occurring. It is estimated that there was a 40% increase in medium density areas and a 16% increase in high density areas.
"This data also corresponds to figures on human-animal conflict, as well as people's belief that leopard numbers have increased," he said.
The original version in Afrikaans below:
Luiperds loop wyer draaie
Terugvoer oor sensus
'n Sensusopname toon 'n sterk toename in die verspreiding van Namibië se luiperds.
Dié roofdiere kom ook nou voor waar wetenskaplikes hulle nog nie voorheen ontdek het nie.
Terselfdertyd meen navorsers alhoewel die skatting van die totale luiperdbevolking laer is as in 2011, het luiperdgetalle nie afgeneem nie en is eerder die teenoorgestelde die geval.
Die Namibië Universiteit vir Wetenskap en Tegnologie (Nust) se prof. Morgan Hauptfleisch was vandeesweek tydens die Namibië Professionele Jagvereniging (Napha) se 46ste jaarvergadering aan die woord. Hy het gesê alhoewel luiperds in Namibië tans op 11 733 geraam word, terwyl dit volgens die 2011-studie 14 154 was, dui dit nie op 'n afname nie.
“Dit is eerder 'n regstelling van die vorige getal. Onthou, die studie het ook bevind mens-dier-konflik en die verspreiding van luiperds het verhoog, en mense handhaaf die persepsie dat luiperdgetalle styg.
“Die media het aanvanklik berig daar was 'n afname in luiperdgetalle. Dit is nie net verkeerd nie, maar ook onverantwoordelik.
“Ons kon in die afgelope studie die data verfyn en daarom is die skatting laer. Boonop het hierdie studie oor luukshede beskik soos genoeg geld, wat beteken het ons kon baie meer data in die veld insamel.
“Terselfdertyd het ons kennis oor karnivore oor die afgelope vyf jaar aansienlik verbeter,” het Hauptfleisch verduidelik.
Hy het gesê die luiperdsensus het gebruik gemaak van honderde kamera-lokvalle landswyd, asook opnames wat deur net minder as 400 grondeienaars ingevul is.
Die kamera-lokvalle het meer as 7 miljoen foto's geneem.
KWOTAS
'n Analise is ook gedoen van die trofeeluiperds wat oor die afgelope tien jaar gejag is, soos gerapporteer aan die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme.
“Namibië staan jaarliks 'n jagkwota van 250 permitte vir luiperds toe. Dit beteken ons laat toe dat 1,8% van die huidige luiperdbevolking benut word.
“Streng gesproke moet ons jaarliks net toelaat dat 211 gejag word, maar as ons kyk na die aantal luiperds wat wel jaarliks gejag word, is dit veel minder. Oor die afgelope tien jaar kon ons nie die kwota van 250 luiperds per jaar vul nie.
“Die rede hiervoor is onder meer dat die gebiede waar luiperds loop baie groot is - veral wat luiperdmannetjies betref.
“Wanneer 'n jagkwota dus vir 'n spesifieke plaas gegee word, is dit baie beperkend, want die roofdiere beweeg oor talle plase.
Dis een van die grootste redes waarom die jag van luiperds dikwels onsuksesvol is.
“Ek stel dus voor dat die jagkwota nié verminder word nie. Nog 'n voorstel is dat 'n jagpermit vir luiperds uitgereik word wat oor 'n groter gebied geldig is, eerder as op individuele plase,” het Hauptfleisch gesê.
PLAASEIENAARS
Hauptfleisch sê altesaam 85% van die grondeienaars wat aan die luiperdsensus deelgeneem het, het aangedui die roofdiere kom wel op hul plase voor.
“Talle plaaseienaars glo luiperdgetalle is besig om te styg. Data toon dat luiperds die tweede grootste oorsaak van mens-dier-konflik was, met jakkalse wat eerste op die lys oor die afgelope twee jaar was,” het hy gesê.
Luiperds is nou ook wyer oor die land verspreid.
“Die vorige opname wys luiperds het bykans nooit in die Kalahari-dele van die land voorgekom nie, terwyl die jongste opname toon hulle het nou 'n medium tot hoë teenwoordigheid daar.
“In gebiede waar voorheen 'n medium tot hoë digtheid van luiperds was, kom nou selfs meer voor. Na raming was daar 'n 40%-toename in mediumdigtheidgebiede en 'n toename van 16% in hoë-digtheidsgebiede.
“Dié data stem ook ooreen met syfers oor mens-dier-konflik, asook mense se opvatting dat luiperdsyfers verhoog het,” het hy gesê.
Leopards making wider turns
Feedback on census
A census survey shows a strong increase in the distribution of Namibia's leopards.
These predators are also now found where scientists have not previously discovered them.
At the same time, researchers believe that although the estimate of the total leopard population is lower than in 2011, leopard numbers have not decreased and the opposite is the case.
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) prof. Morgan Hauptfleisch was speaking at the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha )'s 46th annual meeting this week. He said that although leopards in Namibia are currently estimated at 11,733, while according to the 2011 study it was 14,154, that does not indicate a decrease.
"It is rather a correction of the previous number. Remember, the study also found human-animal conflict and the spread of leopards increased, and people maintain the perception that leopard numbers are rising.
“The media initially reported a decrease in leopard numbers. It is not only wrong, but also irresponsible.
“We were able to refine the data in the past study and therefore the estimate is lower. In addition, this study had luxuries such as enough money, which meant we could collect much more data in the field.
"At the same time, our knowledge of carnivores has improved significantly over the past five years," Hauptfleisch explained.
He said the leopard census used hundreds of camera traps nationwide, as well as surveys completed by just under 400 landowners.
The camera traps took more than 7 million photos.
QUOTAS
An analysis was also made of the trophy leopards that have been hunted over the past ten years, as reported to the Ministry of the Environment and Tourism.
“Namibia grants a hunting quota of 250 permits for leopards annually. This means that we allow 1.8% of the current leopard population to be utilized.
“Strictly speaking, we should only allow 211 to be hunted annually, but when we look at the number of leopards that are hunted annually, it is much less. Over the past ten years we have not been able to fill the quota of 250 leopards per year.
“The reason for this is, among other things, that the areas where leopards run are very large - especially as far as leopard males are concerned.
“So when a hunting quota is given for a specific farm, it is very restrictive, because the predators move across numerous farms.
This is one of the biggest reasons why leopard hunting is often unsuccessful.
“So I suggest not reducing the hunting quota. Another suggestion is that a hunting permit be issued for leopards that is valid over a larger area, rather than on individual farms, ”Hauptfleisch said.
FARM OWNERS
Hauptfleisch says a total of 85% of landowners who participated in the leopard census indicated that the predators did occur on their farms.
“Many farm owners believe leopard numbers are rising. Data shows that leopards were the second leading cause of human-animal conflict, with foxes being first on the list over the past two years, ”he said.
Leopards are now also spreading across the country.
“The previous survey shows leopards have almost never been found in the Kalahari parts of the country, while the latest survey shows they now have a medium to high presence there.
“In areas that used to be a medium to high density of leopards, even more are now occurring. It is estimated that there was a 40% increase in medium density areas and a 16% increase in high density areas.
"This data also corresponds to figures on human-animal conflict, as well as people's belief that leopard numbers have increased," he said.
The original version in Afrikaans below:
Luiperds loop wyer draaie
Terugvoer oor sensus
'n Sensusopname toon 'n sterk toename in die verspreiding van Namibië se luiperds.
Dié roofdiere kom ook nou voor waar wetenskaplikes hulle nog nie voorheen ontdek het nie.
Terselfdertyd meen navorsers alhoewel die skatting van die totale luiperdbevolking laer is as in 2011, het luiperdgetalle nie afgeneem nie en is eerder die teenoorgestelde die geval.
Die Namibië Universiteit vir Wetenskap en Tegnologie (Nust) se prof. Morgan Hauptfleisch was vandeesweek tydens die Namibië Professionele Jagvereniging (Napha) se 46ste jaarvergadering aan die woord. Hy het gesê alhoewel luiperds in Namibië tans op 11 733 geraam word, terwyl dit volgens die 2011-studie 14 154 was, dui dit nie op 'n afname nie.
“Dit is eerder 'n regstelling van die vorige getal. Onthou, die studie het ook bevind mens-dier-konflik en die verspreiding van luiperds het verhoog, en mense handhaaf die persepsie dat luiperdgetalle styg.
“Die media het aanvanklik berig daar was 'n afname in luiperdgetalle. Dit is nie net verkeerd nie, maar ook onverantwoordelik.
“Ons kon in die afgelope studie die data verfyn en daarom is die skatting laer. Boonop het hierdie studie oor luukshede beskik soos genoeg geld, wat beteken het ons kon baie meer data in die veld insamel.
“Terselfdertyd het ons kennis oor karnivore oor die afgelope vyf jaar aansienlik verbeter,” het Hauptfleisch verduidelik.
Hy het gesê die luiperdsensus het gebruik gemaak van honderde kamera-lokvalle landswyd, asook opnames wat deur net minder as 400 grondeienaars ingevul is.
Die kamera-lokvalle het meer as 7 miljoen foto's geneem.
KWOTAS
'n Analise is ook gedoen van die trofeeluiperds wat oor die afgelope tien jaar gejag is, soos gerapporteer aan die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme.
“Namibië staan jaarliks 'n jagkwota van 250 permitte vir luiperds toe. Dit beteken ons laat toe dat 1,8% van die huidige luiperdbevolking benut word.
“Streng gesproke moet ons jaarliks net toelaat dat 211 gejag word, maar as ons kyk na die aantal luiperds wat wel jaarliks gejag word, is dit veel minder. Oor die afgelope tien jaar kon ons nie die kwota van 250 luiperds per jaar vul nie.
“Die rede hiervoor is onder meer dat die gebiede waar luiperds loop baie groot is - veral wat luiperdmannetjies betref.
“Wanneer 'n jagkwota dus vir 'n spesifieke plaas gegee word, is dit baie beperkend, want die roofdiere beweeg oor talle plase.
Dis een van die grootste redes waarom die jag van luiperds dikwels onsuksesvol is.
“Ek stel dus voor dat die jagkwota nié verminder word nie. Nog 'n voorstel is dat 'n jagpermit vir luiperds uitgereik word wat oor 'n groter gebied geldig is, eerder as op individuele plase,” het Hauptfleisch gesê.
PLAASEIENAARS
Hauptfleisch sê altesaam 85% van die grondeienaars wat aan die luiperdsensus deelgeneem het, het aangedui die roofdiere kom wel op hul plase voor.
“Talle plaaseienaars glo luiperdgetalle is besig om te styg. Data toon dat luiperds die tweede grootste oorsaak van mens-dier-konflik was, met jakkalse wat eerste op die lys oor die afgelope twee jaar was,” het hy gesê.
Luiperds is nou ook wyer oor die land verspreid.
“Die vorige opname wys luiperds het bykans nooit in die Kalahari-dele van die land voorgekom nie, terwyl die jongste opname toon hulle het nou 'n medium tot hoë teenwoordigheid daar.
“In gebiede waar voorheen 'n medium tot hoë digtheid van luiperds was, kom nou selfs meer voor. Na raming was daar 'n 40%-toename in mediumdigtheidgebiede en 'n toename van 16% in hoë-digtheidsgebiede.
“Dié data stem ook ooreen met syfers oor mens-dier-konflik, asook mense se opvatting dat luiperdsyfers verhoog het,” het hy gesê.
