The Landmark Foundation is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to building the conservation economy. The Leopard and Predator Project started with the rescue of a gin trapped leopard in 2002 and continues today with leopard rescues, research projects, education, advocacy and the creation of predator wildlife friendly farming areas. We work in the Garden Route forests through to the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve and Greater Karoo.
Please see the website for futher details www.landmarkfoundation.org.za. Below is a letter about the project.To date 16 leopards have been GPS collared for research and over 200 000 hectares of land have been changed to Leopard Friendly farming, a green brand “Fair Game – wildlife Friendly products” has also been created. Our data gives detailed results of the exact territorial usage of leopards allowing us to establish population density and offer compensation to farmers for any losses incurred to GPS collared cats. Our primary aim is to ensure that predators and people can co-exist. We work with farmers to implement ecological and ethical alternatives to the lethal control of predation by putting livestock guardian dogs to work and deterrents on sheep like protective neck collars. These methods have reduced the conflict by 56 – 97 %.
But change is slow. The population of leopards for the greater Baviaanskloof has been calculated at only 25 -35 individuals from GPS data. Thirty-one have died in the last 8 years that we know of as a result of gin traps and targeted hunts. Our objective is the establishment of management methods on farms that support conservation and improved livestock production. To achieve this we focus on: Rescue, rehabilitation and release of key species Education and extension work (working with landowners) to promote ecologically and ethically acceptable standards. Research on the population dynamics of leopards and other predators, and the effectiveness of different management strategies Expanding wildlife-friendly habitats Advocacy actions towards changing legislation Establishing a Wildlife-Friendly brand for agricultural products, such as wool and meat.
The foundation has developed several partnerships with commercial farmers, research entities and conservation organisations. We have formal MOA with Cape Nature and the NSPCA, and have research permits with the Eastern Cape Parks Board, and a TOPS permit with DEDEA.
The project continues to rely on many volunteer workers and is run by the director and founder of the foundation, Dr Bool Smuts. Ms Jeannine McManus has completed an MsC on the spatial distribution of Leopards with distinction from Rhodes Univeristy, RSA. Dr Anna Haw is continuing the sponsored predator trials in the Karroo with 45 000 stock units. Kate Muller runs the education program at schools. Major sponsors for this project to date have included Henry and Iris Englund Foundation, Vodacom Foundation, Woolworths Trust, Pick ‘n Pay, The Ackerman Family Foundation, ABAX (formerly Polaris Capital), WWF USA, NSPCA, Ethics and Organics, PE Agricultural Show Society, Skilderkrantz Private Nature Reserve, Vineyard Car Hire and Deutsche Bank.
The Landmark Foundation is a registered NGO and Charitable Trust. All activities remain dedicated to our mandate of building the conservation economy.
