The Cape leopard: rare cats, an hour away from Cape Town

LLeopards, with their stealthy nocturnal ways, have always been the most elusive of the big cats – the least-seen member of the Big 5. They avoid human settlements or land transformed for agriculture and stick to wild bush – yet a few years ago, one was spotted surprisingly close to Cape Town. In 2012, it became evident that a Cape leopard was prowling near Somerset West, a mere stone’s-throw across the Cape Flats from the Mother City. 

The Landmark Foundation, an NGO working in several conservation and environmental protection fields, is one of the organisations committed to protecting these fascinating animals – another is the Cape Leopard Trust. 

Cape leopards, Landmark director Dr Bool Smuts is keen to stress, are not a separate species; it’s merely a geographic distinction. They have the same genetics as other Panthera pardus pardus specimens found in the bushveld and on the savannah. They are admittedly smaller – typically half the weight of a leopard from further north – and they roam over far larger ranges than those, say, in the Kruger National Park; up to 20 times as big. 

But this, experts believe, is an adaptive trait caused by the isolation of these populations in mountainous fynbos regions. Where there is too little nutrition in the available vegetation to sustain large prey animals, smaller predators with bigger ranges find it easier to stay properly fed. Worryingly, there are only an estimated 500 leopards left in Western Cape province, with 400 estimated in Eastern Cape.  

Of even more concern is the genetic bottlenecking occurring as populations get cut off into isolated islands of wilderness, hemmed in by human development, which could eventually result in cataclysmic inbreeding. 

There are thought to be about 35 leopards left in the sprawling mountains of the Cederberg Wilderness to the north of Cape Town, where they were first studied. The Cape Leopard Trust was created in 2003 when it was realised that their existence was threatened, mostly by livestock farming. 

But now it seems that some Cape leopards, at least, may have adapted to prowling closer to civilisation. In September 2012, authorities were called in when a male leopard was discovered in an illegal snare on Lourensford Wine Estate near Somerset West, less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town’s CBD. 

Conservationists were astounded to find a leopard so close to the metropolis. He was darted, released from the snare and treated for his injuries. A tracking collar was fitted, and he was successfully released into a wilderness area. 

There have been no cases of Cape leopards ever confronting humans – they’re too small and too timid, generally. That said, a cornered leopard or a female with cubs who feels threatened will always be dangerous, so in the event of a rare sighting, observe, admire and count your blessings – but give the animal a wide berth.  

Unfortunately, the chances of seeing and photographing one are vanishingly slim – which is why travellers who visit this part of the world are urged to do as much as they can towards leopard conservation. You can always donate directly to the Cape Leopard Trust, which champions the endangered predators and others like caracals and black eagles.  

Or – and this way is much more fun – you could make sure you spend your Western Cape holiday visiting establishments that are ‘fundraiser partners’ of the trust, donating a portion of their proceeds to leopard conservation. These include wine estates like Leopard’s Leap, Cederberg and the Constantia Wine Route, hotels and guesthouses like the One & Only, Oudrif Lodge and The 12 Apostles, and several other retailers, adventure operators and wildlife reserves.  

It’s a great way to enjoy the attractions of this stunning province while supporting endangered species – you’ll find these and other sponsorship options on the Cape Leopard Trust website.