WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE?
The aim of the proposed project is to improve our understanding
of an elusive species so that we can provide baseline data and build capacity
to ensure an ecological and economical sustainable leopard trophy hunting
system within Zimbabwe.
To achieve this aim, the main objectives of the proposed study are to:
- assess three population parameters (density, demographics and recruitment)
in different consumptive utilisation systems to assist with determining
the viability of leopard populations using a non-consumptive utilisation
area as the control population.
- to build capacity within the ZPWMA and the hunting industry, using data
and experience gained during the study
- to develop a sustainable trophy hunting system for leopard in conjunction
with all stakeholders.
The proposed project will carry out the following activities to achieve the
main objectives and to reach the final aim:
- Determine relative densities of leopards in the control area, and the
four different consumptive utilisation systems. The project will use representative
study sites within each of the five areas. (This work will be carried out
under Phase 1 of the project). With additional density data from other land
use areas where leopard occur, these data will then be used to estimate
a national population of leopard.
- Assess the population structure of the five representative leopard populations
to compare male to female ratios, and the ratios of adults to subadults
and juveniles (This work will be carried out under Phase II of the project)
- Determine comparative levels of recruitment into each of the representative
populations (This work will be carried out under Phase III of the project).
- Train personnel within the ZPWMA and the hunting industry to monitor leopard
populations on an annual basis (This will be ongoing for the duration of
the project)
- Ensure that all stakeholders are fully aware of the project and partake
in the development of a sustainable trophy hunting system using the data
and experience collected during this study.
