habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
The Leopard has a wide habitat tolerance, including woodland, grassland savannah and mountain habitats but also occur widely in coastal scrub, shrubland and semi-desert (Hunter et al. 2013; Stein et al. 2016). Densely wooded and rocky areas are preferred as choice habitat types. Leopards also have highly varied diets, including more than 90 species in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from arthropods to large antelope up to the size of adult male Eland (Tragelaphus oryx) (Hunter et al. 2013). Their main prey is in the weight range of 10â40 kg, where the preferred mass of prey is 25 kg, and, since they are solitary predators, they would generally capture prey similar to their own weight (Hayward et al. 2006). In South Africa, medium-sized ungulates such as Impala (Aepyceros melampus), Grey Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), and Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), are all preferred species (Hayward et al. 2006; Balme et al. 2007; Pitman et al. 2013), which is the case in most game reserves and ranchland country in the savannah biome where such species do occur, and thus brings Leopards into conflict with humans (for example, Power 2014). Elsewhere in the country, particularly in the montane and rocky areas of the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces, small prey such as Rock Hyraxes (Procavia capensis) and Klipspringer antelope (Oreotragus oreotragus) are extensively utilised (Norton et al. 1986; Stuart & Stuart 1993; Bothma & Le Riche 1994; Martins et al. 2011). This is similar to other rocky areas elsewhere, such as the Rhodes Matopo National Park in Zimbabwe as determined by faecal analysis (Grobler & Wilson 1972).Leopard densities vary with habitat, prey availability, and threat severity, from fewer than one individual / 100 km² to over 30 individuals / 100 km², with highest densities obtained in protected East and southern African mesic woodland savannas (Hunter et al. 2013). Within the assessment region, the lowest densities are in the Kalahari and Western Cape mountains (Martins 2010). For example, Western Cape densities range from 0.25â2.3 individuals / 100 km2 (Martins 2010). Density estimates for South Africa are summarised in Swanepoel et al. (2014) with additional densities in Swanepoel et al. (2015b). It is not a migrant species but its genetic viability dependends on sufficient gene flow between populations (and thus dispersal) over relatively large areas. Male Leopards in the Waterberg region in Limpopo have range sizes of about 290 km² (Swanepoel 2008). The home ranges of male and female Leopards in the Kgalagadi average 2,182 km² and 488 km² respectively (Bothma 1998). In the Soutpansberg Mountains, male Leopards occupied a home range of approximately 100 km² while females occupied approximately 20 km² (S. Williams unpubl. data).
Ecosystem and cultural services: As one of the last remaining widespread large carnivores in South Africa, Leopards may play an important role in regulating terrestrial ecosystems (Ripple et al. 2014). In the Western Cape, they are the apex predator, impacting on mesopredator behaviour and possibly densities, such as with Caracal (Caracal caracal). Such regulation will depend on Leopard densities (Soulé et al. 2003), suggesting that such ecosystem services might be restricted to certain areas in South Africa. Leopards also prey upon Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas)(Bothma & Le Riche 1994), which is a well-known problem predator species (Stuart 1981), so they conceivably can control these species to an extent. Camera trapping evidence from comparable ecological areas of the North West showed a fivefold increase in jackal abundance when Leopards were absent, which is evidence for mesopredator release in the absence of apex predators (Power 2014; Minnie et al. 2016), and thus support for holistic ecosystem management. Similarly, Leopards prey upon Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus) (Pienaar 1969; Stuart & Stuart 1993), where they form an important prey source in the Waterberg bushveld and Soutpansberg (Stuart & Stuart 1993; Swanepoel 2008; Jooste et al. 2013; Pitman et al. 2013), and thus may help to control baboon numbers.
Leopards further play an important role in the trophy hunting and ecotourism industries, where people pay significant sums of money to shoot or view and photograph this iconic species (Balme et al. 2012). As such, they are an important flagship species for certain conservation actions and areas in South Africa. Leopards also play an important cultural role in South Africa; for example, Leopard skins are worn by members of the Shembe Church as a sign of worship and by high-ranking Zulus as a status symbol (Hunter et al. 2013).
