Bushmans Kloof extends sponsorship to protect endangered Leopards

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat is a major sponsor of the Cape Leopard Trust. Since its inception in 2005, this project has been dedicated to the preservation of the endangered Cape Mountain Leopard in the Cederberg region (Western Cape).

Nelson Rodrigues, Bushmans Kloof lodge manager, recently presented a cheque for R60 000 on behalf of the lodge owners to Quinton Martins, Project Manager and Researcher of the Cape Leopard Trust. The donation will be used to purchase two additional GPS (Global Positioning Satellite system) collars, thus ensuring this vital conservation management project will continue its valuable work. The donation brings Bushmans Kloof's total sponsorship to eight collars, valued at some R240 000.

The Cape Mountain leopard is protected within the Cederberg Wilderness area, and Bushmans Kloof, located within the buffer zone, provides a further sanctuary of 7500 hectares to the Cape Mountain leopard population. Fitted GPS collars provide valuable data that aids research into the behaviour and home range of this elusive and enigmatic species.

The first sighting, capture and collaring of a leopard ever to take place on Bushmans Kloof caused great excitement among Bushmans Kloof guides when Kooitjie, an eight-year-old male was sighted, collared and released here in August 2006. The second leopard, a female named Amber, was collared on the reserve about one year later. To date, eleven leopards have been collared by The Cape Leopard Trust in this region, and information gleaned from the GPS collars is producing groundbreaking scientific results that, in turn, are positively affecting the conservation of this threatened feline species.

Bushmans Kloof is passionately dedicated to the preservation and protection of indigenous wildlife on both the reserve and in the surrounding Cederberg Wilderness area. Custodian to numerous rare or endangered species of birds and mammals, including one of the largest privately owned herds of the Cape Mountain zebra, the Cape clawless otter and the Clanwilliam yellow fish, it is renowned for its exceptional environmental and conservation projects and was awarded the esteemed Relais & Châteaux Environment Trophy 2007.

Says Lodge Manager Rodrigues, "Bushmans Kloof is proud to support this important conservation project to study the apex predator in the Western Cape. The preservation of the leopard is of prime concern within this region. Although it is not easy to estimate their exact numbers, according to research, the remaining leopard population is limited, and therefore needs protection within the Cederberg Wilderness area. We at Bushmans Kloof are proud to assist in the protection of these special animals that greatly add to the mystique of this beautiful region."

For more information, log on to Bushmanskloof.co.za.