The Limietberg Survey, the first phase of three of the CLT Boland Project, officially ended in November 2010. With the help of the 46 camera stations the two researchers, Jeannie Hayward and Anita Meyer, recorded the presence of 21 different mammal species and a staggering 21 individual leopards in the survey area!

During the survey period, three camera stations deployed on Klipbokkop recorded the presence of no less than 4 individual leopards and a total of 10 other mammal species, including Baboon; Cape grysbok; Cape hare; Duiker; Honey badger; Klipspringer; Large spotted genet; Porcupine; Small grey mongoose as well as Smith's red rock rabbit.

Leopards are highly territorial animals and actively guard their teritories. It is very interesting to find three males at one camera spot as was the case at Klipbokkop. Information on each of the leopards follow below.

BM3, called Sambo, is a healthy adult male leopard. This individual has also been photographed at cameras near Kaaimansgat (High Noon), in the Stettyn mountains and in Stettynskloof.

BM5 is an adult male leopard who was accidentally caught in a trap set for otters in Du Toitskloof Pass in 2005. He was released again close to the capture site, and was subsequently photographed by a camera trap on private property (Fizantakraal Private Trout Lodge) between 2006-2009. During the Boland study Limietberg survey, BM5 was photographed in the area between Kaaimansgat (High Noon), Stettynskloof, Dwarsberg Trout Haven and Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve.

BM7 is a healthy male who was first photographed on Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve in 2000. 10 years later, the Boland survey has picked him up at the exact same location where he was photographed before (making this the longest-running photographic record of a Cape Leopard!), as well as near the Brandvlei dam, Dwarsberg Trout Haven, and in the Rawsonville area.  He was also photographed near Fizantakraal Private Trout Lodge in Du Toitskloof in 2007.

The latest leopard find at Klipbokkop is a beautiful female leopard, BF5, called Nala. She was also photographed in Stettynskloof on the other side of the mountain.

The CLT Boland project Southern Survey is currently underway. This survey includes the CapeNature Jonkershoek, Hottentots-Holland and Kogelberg Nature Reserves, the City of Cape Town's Helderberg and Kogelberg reserves, as well as surrounding private water catchment. For more information please visit the CLT website at http://www.capeleopard.org.za/boland/clt_boland_project.html

Click here to download the Limietberg Survey. (1mb PDF document)