Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models
The establishment of enclosed conservation areas are claimed to be the driving force for the long-term survival of wildlife populations. Whilst fencing provides an important tool in conservation, it simultaneously represents a controversial matter as it stops natural migration processes, which could...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-09-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/724 |
| _version_ | 1818508379870461952 |
|---|---|
| author | Jenny Noack Louis Heyns Diethardt Rodenwoldt Sarah Edwards |
| author_facet | Jenny Noack Louis Heyns Diethardt Rodenwoldt Sarah Edwards |
| author_sort | Jenny Noack |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The establishment of enclosed conservation areas are claimed to be the driving force for the long-term survival of wildlife populations. Whilst fencing provides an important tool in conservation, it simultaneously represents a controversial matter as it stops natural migration processes, which could ultimately lead to inbreeding, a decline in genetic diversity and local extinction if not managed correctly. Thus, wildlife residing in enclosed reserves requires effective conservation and management strategies, which are strongly reliant on robust population estimates. Here, we used camera traps combined with the relatively new class of spatially explicit capture-recaptured models (SECR) to produce the first reliable leopard population estimate for an enclosed reserve in Namibia. Leopard density was estimated at 14.51 leopards/100 km<sup>2</sup>, the highest recorded density in Namibia to date. A combination of high prey abundance, the absence of human persecution and a lack of top-down control are believed to be the main drivers of the recorded high leopard population. Our results add to the growing body of literature which suggests enclosed reserves have the potential to harbour high densities and highlight the importance of such reserves for the survival of threatened species in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:31:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fb3e1c9d2cf4120a2a879cb4c342811 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:31:08Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fb3e1c9d2cf4120a2a879cb4c3428112022-12-22T01:31:03ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-09-0191072410.3390/ani9100724ani9100724Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture ModelsJenny Noack0Louis Heyns1Diethardt Rodenwoldt2Sarah Edwards3AfriCat Foundation, Otjiwarongo P.O. Box 1889, NamibiaAfriCat Foundation, Otjiwarongo P.O. Box 1889, NamibiaAfriCat Foundation, Otjiwarongo P.O. Box 1889, NamibiaAfriCat Foundation, Otjiwarongo P.O. Box 1889, NamibiaThe establishment of enclosed conservation areas are claimed to be the driving force for the long-term survival of wildlife populations. Whilst fencing provides an important tool in conservation, it simultaneously represents a controversial matter as it stops natural migration processes, which could ultimately lead to inbreeding, a decline in genetic diversity and local extinction if not managed correctly. Thus, wildlife residing in enclosed reserves requires effective conservation and management strategies, which are strongly reliant on robust population estimates. Here, we used camera traps combined with the relatively new class of spatially explicit capture-recaptured models (SECR) to produce the first reliable leopard population estimate for an enclosed reserve in Namibia. Leopard density was estimated at 14.51 leopards/100 km<sup>2</sup>, the highest recorded density in Namibia to date. A combination of high prey abundance, the absence of human persecution and a lack of top-down control are believed to be the main drivers of the recorded high leopard population. Our results add to the growing body of literature which suggests enclosed reserves have the potential to harbour high densities and highlight the importance of such reserves for the survival of threatened species in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/724conservationdensityenclosed reserveleopard<i>panthera pardus</i>spatially explicit capture-recapture |
| spellingShingle | Jenny Noack Louis Heyns Diethardt Rodenwoldt Sarah Edwards Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models Animals conservation density enclosed reserve leopard <i>panthera pardus</i> spatially explicit capture-recapture |
| title | Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models |
| title_full | Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models |
| title_fullStr | Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models |
| title_short | Leopard Density Estimation within an Enclosed Reserve, Namibia Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture Models |
| title_sort | leopard density estimation within an enclosed reserve namibia using spatially explicit capture recapture models |
| topic | conservation density enclosed reserve leopard <i>panthera pardus</i> spatially explicit capture-recapture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/724 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jennynoack leoparddensityestimationwithinanenclosedreservenamibiausingspatiallyexplicitcapturerecapturemodels AT louisheyns leoparddensityestimationwithinanenclosedreservenamibiausingspatiallyexplicitcapturerecapturemodels AT diethardtrodenwoldt leoparddensityestimationwithinanenclosedreservenamibiausingspatiallyexplicitcapturerecapturemodels AT sarahedwards leoparddensityestimationwithinanenclosedreservenamibiausingspatiallyexplicitcapturerecapturemodels |