Knowledge of leopard (Panthera pardus) persistence over time in mixed-use landscapes is limited, particularly in semi-arid regions of southern Africa. This study aimed to estimate leopard population changes over time and to investigate possible drivers affecting density, using three camera trap surveys (2012, 2017, 2022), in the Little Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa. To our knowledge, this is the only multi-session spatial capture-recapture (SCR) analysis conducted in a semi-arid southern Africa environment encompassing both protected and nonprotected areas. The best-performing density model indicated that the leopard population remained stable with a density of 0.92 leopards per 100 km2 (95 % CI: 0.74-1.16) over the study period. Terrain ruggedness was an important driver of leopard density, indicating that rugged elevated areas are key leopard habitat within the region. This study shows that a charismatic species can survive in a mixed-use landscape abundant with anthropogenic threats. It further serves to highlight the value of multi-session SCR modelling in developing targeted conservation efforts.

The Nubian ibex Capra nubiana was categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2020. Historically, its distribution extended from north-east Africa to the Middle East. Its current distribution in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN Red List is unclear, suggesting that it may be restricted to one location, and may have been extirpated from 11 other sites. During 2020-2022, camera-trap surveys were undertaken to determine the presence of the Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr within Saudi Arabia, covering the habitat of the Nubian ibex and providing an opportunity to review its distribution. We obtained 426 Nubian ibex records from 42 camera-trap stations, comprising 113 independent detections at eight of the 16 sites surveyed. Additionally, the species is known to occur in at least five areas where captive-bred Nubian ibex have been released. Our findings confirm that wild Nubian ibex populations persist along the mountain ranges in the west of the country and highlight areas that remain important refuges for this ungulate. Reintroductions have become a key strategy in Saudi Arabia to reinforce threatened populations and increase the geographical range of the Nubian ibex. We advocate a cautious approach to reintroductions, based on population-level genetic research on both wild and reintroduced populations.

Habitat fragmentation poses a major threat to large carnivores globally, with leopards (Panthera pardus) experiencing severe range contractions and population declines. The Western Cape Province of South Africa presents a unique case where leopards persist within a highly fragmented, human-dominated landscape that overlaps two global biodiversity hotspots. This study assessed leopard distribution and connectivity across the Western Cape using a multi-data, multi-scale framework. Specifically, we examined how environmental and anthropogenic variables influence leopard space use and habitat suitability across multiple spatial scales and quantified landscape permeability to identify potential corridors. We integrated province-wide questionnaire surveys, GPS-collar tracking data, and other verified presence records. Occupancy modelling, species distribution modelling, and circuit-theory analyses were used to evaluate habitat use, resource selection, and functional connectivity. First‑order (population‑level) occupancy modelling indicated widespread but spatially variable leopard occurrence, primarily constrained by extremely rugged terrain, while proximity to protected areas influenced detection probability. Second-order (home-range) MaxEnt modelling identified protected areas (60.20

Conservation in southern Africa increasingly requires landscape-level and transboundary strategies to ensure ecological connectivity and species persistence. While research at this expansive scale is often impractical, studying a small, well-characterized population within a complex environment can yield insights applicable across broader landscapes. The Sabi Sands Leopard Project exemplifies this approach, offering valuable findings from 15 years of intensive, individual-based research on a high-density leopard population. Through detailed life histories and photographic records, the project developed accurate age and sexing metrics, aiding in the correct identification of problem animals and promoting sustainable trophy hunting. Investigations into social structures and spatial organization within the reserve have revealed the primary drivers of space use and the implications of territory sharing. These insights are crucial for assessing the status and growth potential of other at-risk leopard populations. Current genetic research, leveraging known maternal relationships and advanced technology, is enhancing our understanding of genetic diversity, inbreeding, and connectivity. This work is also unravelling cryptic mating dynamics, providing a clearer picture of leopard reproductive strategies. Moreover, these genetic data underpin the development of forensic tools for combating wildlife trafficking, thereby extending the project's impact beyond local conservation to broader anti-poaching efforts. Through these multifaceted studies, the Sabi Sands Leopard Project not only deepens our understanding of leopards in a localized context but also offers essential lessons for transboundary and landscape-scale initiatives. This approach underscores the significance of integrating detailed, small-scale research into larger conservation frameworks, promoting resilience and connectivity across southern Africa's diverse ecosystems.

The Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr is categorized as Critically Endangered, with < 200 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. Historically the species ranged over an extensive area of western Saudi Arabia but, with no confirmed sightings since 2014, investigating potential continued presence and distribution is of critical conservation importance. We present the results of a comprehensive survey designed to detect any remaining Arabian leopard populations in Saudi Arabia. We conducted 14 surveys, deploying 586 camera-trap stations at 13 sites, totalling 82,075 trap-nights. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with 843 members of local communities across the Arabian leopard's historical range to assess the presence of leopards, other predators and prey species. Predator scats were collected ad hoc by field teams and we used mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify the originating species. We obtained 62,948 independent photographs of animals and people, but none were of Arabian leopards. Other carnivores appeared widespread and domestic animals were numerous, but wild prey were comparatively scarce. Three questionnaire respondents reported sightings of leopards within the previous year, but targeted camera-trap surveys in these areas did not yield evidence of leopards. Of the 143 scats sent for analysis, no DNA was conclusively identified as that of the leopard. From this extensive study, we conclude there are probably no surviving, sustainable populations of Arabian leopards in Saudi Arabia. Individual leopards might be present but were not confirmed. Any future Arabian leopard conservation in Saudi Arabia will probably require reintroduction of captive-bred leopards.

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human–wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence.

The Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) is a small canid species classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. They predominantly inhabit mountainous regions in arid ecosystems across the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and North Africa. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the species has been recorded only in limited localities and its population is believed to be in decline. We present data from camera trapping surveys conducted between March 2020 and December 2022 to update and confirm the species' known distribution in KSA. We captured 470 independent captures of Blanford's fox at 21 survey sites, representing 191 spatially independent locations. We used ensemble species distribution modelling to predict areas of suitable habitat within their IUCN Red List distribution range. Our results suggest that the most favourable habitats for theBlanford's fox in KSA are in the rugged, mountainous areas along the southwestern Asir range. These findings provide insights into the species' distribution and may support future conservation efforts to maintain viable populations of Blanford's fox in KSA.

Predator populations persisting in desert landscapes may be especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and changing climates, but many are chronically understudied and at risk of extirpation. The Asiatic subspecies of caracal, Caracal caracal schmitzi, inhabit the mountainous landscapes of the western and southern Arabian Peninsula, but they are thought to be in decline across the region. In Saudi Arabia, a recent extensive study used camera traps and face-to-face questionnaires to survey Arabian leopards and other medium- to large-size mammals, simultaneously generating vast bycatch data on Asiatic caracal presence. We assessed interspecific temporal overlap and identified factors that influence caracal occupancy, and predict their potential distribution across their historical range in Saudi Arabia. From fourteen camera trap surveys, 497 independent captures of caracals were recorded at only the nine south-western sites. Occupancy modelling showed caracals occurred in areas with higher gross primary productivity and elevations, as well as with a higher relative abundance of free-roaming cats and dogs, striped hyaena, and wild prey. Higher abundances of large predators decreased detection of caracals. Caracals displayed a cathemeral activity pattern with peaks of activity around sunrise and sunset, and had a high diel overlap with free-roaming cats and dogs, and wild Arabian wolves. Predictive modelling identified the south western mountains as a stronghold for Asiatic caracals, with low occupancy or recent extirpation in the north and elsewhere, and was highly congruous with predictions from false-positive occupancy modelling from 843 questionnaires. The persistence of caracal populations is likely driven by the increased vegetation and wild prey associated with the southern regions, as well as a more frequent human presence that potentially increases availability of alternative prey, including free-roaming cats. Caracals persisting in dry and desert regions may be particularly vulnerable to climatic changes affecting vegetation and prey abundance, but may have the ability to adapt and benefit from limited human presence if conflict can be avoided.

The size of the home range of a mammal is affected by numerous factors. However, in the normally solitary, but polygynous, Leopard (Panthera pardus), home range size and maintenance is complicated by their transitory social grouping behavior, which is dependent on life history stage and/or reproductive status. In addition, the necessity to avoid competition with conspecifics and other large predators (including humans) also impacts upon home range size. We used movement data from 31 sites across Africa, comprising 147 individuals (67 males and 80 females) to estimate the home range sizes of leopards. We found that leopards with larger home ranges, and in areas with more vegetation, spent longer being active and generally traveled faster, and in straighter lines, than leopards with smaller home ranges. We suggest that a combination of bottom-up (i.e., preferred prey availability), top-down (i.e., competition with conspecifics), and reproductive (i.e., access to mates) factors likely drive the variability in Leopard home range sizes across Africa. However, the maintenance of a large home range is energetically expensive for leopards, likely resulting in a complex evolutionary trade-off between the satisfaction of basic requirements and preventing potentially dangerous encounters with conspecifics, other predators, and people. Bringing all the boys to the yard. Male leopards travel further and faster to find females and to avoid other males. Whereas females are more concerned with food than other leopards.

Spatial patterns of and competition for resources by territorial carnivores are typically explained by two hypotheses: 1) the territorial defence hypothesis and 2) the searching efficiency hypothesis. According to the territorial defence hypothesis, when food resources are abundant, carnivore densities will be high and home ranges small. In addition, carnivores can maximise their necessary energy intake with minimal territorial defence. At medium resource levels, larger ranges will be needed, and it will become more economically beneficial to defend resources against a lower density of competitors. At low resource levels, carnivore densities will be low and home ranges large, but resources will be too scarce to make it beneficial to defend such large territories. Thus, home range overlap will be minimal at intermediate carnivore densities. According to the searching efficiency hypothesis, there is a cost to knowing a home range. Larger areas are harder to learn and easier to forget, so carnivores constantly need to keep their cognitive map updated by regularly revisiting parts of their home ranges. Consequently, when resources are scarce, carnivores require larger home ranges to acquire sufficient food. These larger home ranges lead to more overlap among individuals' ranges, so that overlap in home ranges is largest when food availability is the lowest. Since conspecific density is low when food availability is low, this hypothesis predicts that overlap is largest when densities are the lowest. We measured home range overlap and used a novel method to compare intraspecific home range overlaps for lions Panthera leo (n = 149) and leopards Panthera pardus (n = 111) in Africa. We estimated home range sizes from telemetry location data and gathered carnivore density data from the literature. Our results did not support the territorial defence hypothesis for either species. Lion prides increased their home range overlap at conspecific lower densities whereas leopards did not. Lion pride changes in overlap were primarily due to increases in group size at lower densities. By contrast, the unique dispersal strategies of leopards led to reduced overlap at lower densities. However, when human-caused mortality was higher, leopards increased their home range overlap. Although lions and leopards are territorial, their territorial behaviour was less important than the acquisition of food in determining their space use. Such information is crucial for the future conservation of these two iconic African carnivores.

African Journal of Wildlife Research is a multidisciplinary journal that has been published since 1971 and covers the scientific, applied, managerial, methodological, and sociological issues related to wildlife research.

Variation in home range size exists among and within wildlife populations. Home range size variation may be driven by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including sex, food and reproductive resources, density and competition. In this study, we investigated the sex-specific impacts of prey and reproductive resources, conspecific density and competition on leopard Panthera pardus home range size at two spatio-temporal scales in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa. Male leopard home ranges were more than twice the size of those of females, in line with expectations for a solitary, polygamous species. Both male and female leopard space-use were primarily driven by short-term changes in intra-sexual conspecific density. Females were influenced by both short and long-term drivers, with long-term prey availability (home range and core) and refugia (core) further impacting size. Males were almost exclusively influenced by short-term drivers; home range size was further impacted by short-term changes in female leopard and prey density, and age. Long-term prey availability contributed to male leopard core size. The difference in impact of short- and long-term drivers between the sexes likely relates to tenure expectations; males may be forced out of their territories at any time and should therefore optimize their space-use based on present conditions. Female leopards, however, must secure a home range that maximizes their reproductive success in the short- and long-term in order to raise cubs to independence. Our findings challenge expectations that space-use is primarily resource-driven and demonstrate the critical role of social factors in saturated populations of solitary species. Furthermore, we illustrate the importance of considering temporally variable factors across different timescales to fully understand their impact on mammalian spatial organization.

Effective conservation requires understanding the processes that determine population outcomes. Too often, we assume that protected areas conserve wild populations despite evidence that they frequently fail to do so. Without large-scale studies, however, we cannot determine what relationships are the product of localized conditions versus general patterns that inform conservation more broadly. Leopards' (Panthera pardus) basic ecology is well studied but little research has investigated anthropogenic effects on leopard density at broad scales. We investigated the drivers of leopard density among 27 diverse protected areas in northeastern South Africa to understand what conditions facilitate abundant populations. We formulated 10 working hypotheses that considered the relative influence of bottom-up biological factors and top-down anthropogenic factors on leopard density. Using camera-trap survey data, we fit a multi-session spatial capture-recapture model with inhomogenous density for each hypothesis and evaluated support using an information theoretic approach. The four supported hypotheses indicated that leopard density is primarily limited by human impacts, but that habitat suitability and management conditions also matter. The proportion of camera stations that recorded domestic animals, a proxy for the extent of human impacts and protected area effectiveness, was the only predictor variable present in all four supported models. Protected areas are the cornerstone of large felid conservation, but only when the human-wildlife interface is well managed and protected areas shelter wildlife populations from anthropogenic impacts. To ensure the long-term abundance of large carnivore populations, reserve managers should recognize the ineffectiveness of "paper parks" and promote contiguous networks of protected areas that offer leopards and other large mammal populations greater space and reduced human impacts.

Territoriality (the defence of exclusive home ranges) is a strategy utilized within mammal populations to maximize individual fitness by monopolizing available resources. There is a trade-off, however, between acquiring the resources necessary for survival and reproduction and the cost of defending their exclusive use. Clarifying the sociospatial organization of wildlife populations is vital for understanding intraspecific competition and reproductive behaviour and, ultimately, conserving vulnerable or endangered species. We evaluated territorial behaviour in a solitary carnivore, the African leopard, Panthera pardus, under high-density conditions. We also assessed the influence of resource availability, sex-specific mating tactics and kinship on space sharing within the observed sociospatial structure. Both male and female leopards exhibited relaxed territoriality, with considerable intrasexual overlap occurring among both sexes, indicative of a risk aversion strategy. The risk of serious injury or death due to frequent territorial altercations in such a high-density system negated the benefits of strict spatial boundaries. Space sharing occurred more frequently in resource-rich areas: males overlapped more commonly in areas with high female density, and males and females overlapped more commonly in areas of high prey density. Males competed for access to females rather than monopoly of their home ranges; we hypothesize that the extralimital mating excursions undertaken by female leopards probably reduce the benefit of female monopoly (and consequently, of female defence) in this polygamous species. Space sharing among fe-males was primarily driven by kinship; related females exhibited greater overlap than unrelated females, suggesting kinship benefits to space sharing among mother-daughter pairs. The contributions of resource availability, sex-specific mating tactics and kinship towards creating conditions permitting relaxed territoriality illustrate the complexity of ecological, demographic and behavioural factors involved in the sociospatial organization of solitary carnivores.(c) 2022 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Camera trapping can detect and monitor rare species in landscapes spanning thousands of square kilometres but placement of cameras in areas where the animals most likely occur will increase detection success. This vital information is lacking for the critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) that has undergone a 90% decline across its range in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to identify suitable Arabian leopard habitat and potential population capacity in Saudi Arabia using data from leopards living in ecologically analogous habitat in South Africa and Oman. We developed a resource selection function (RSF) from 14 leopards' GPS data in the Cederberg, South Africa, and validated the model using three leopards in the Little Karoo, and two Arabian leopards in Oman. We then projected the model to the historical range of Arabian leopards in Saudi Arabia to estimate likely leopard locations and potential population sizes based on home range metrics. The RSF successfully discrimi-nated between used and available locations (specificity = 96.7%) and had high predictive ability (Rho > 0.9). Leopards selectively used areas away from human settlements and roads, with high enhanced vegetation index, and intermediate slopes and elevations. Saudi Arabia could theoretically host 4 distinct populations totalling 162-362 Arabian leopard females, depending on home range size. Camera traps deployed in the south-western mountains of Saudi Arabia may be most likely to detect remnant populations of Arabian leopards. Further research is needed into the local abundance of prey species and human activity to ensure the persistence of suitable leopard ranges and inform conservation actions.

Wildlife population density estimates provide information on the number of individuals in an area and influence conservation management decisions. Thus, accuracy is vital. A dominant feature in many landscapes globally is fencing, yet the implications of fence permeability on density estimation using spatial capture-recapture modelling are seldom considered. We used camera trap data from 15 fenced reserves across South Africa to examine the density of brown hyaenas (Parahyaena brunnea). We estimated density and modelled its relationship with a suite of covariates when fenced reserve boundaries were assumed to be permeable or impermeable to hyaena movements. The best performing models were those that included only the influence of study site on both hyaena density and detection probability, regardless of assumptions of fence permeability. When fences were considered impermeable, densities ranged from 2.55 to 15.06 animals per 100 km(2), but when fences were considered permeable, density estimates were on average 9.52 times lower (from 0.17 to 1.59 animals per 100 km(2)). Fence permeability should therefore be an essential consideration when estimating density, especially since density results can considerably influence wildlife management decisions. In the absence of strong evidence to the contrary, future studies in fenced areas should assume some degree of permeability in order to avoid overestimating population density.

Apex predator reintroductions have proliferated across southern Africa, yet their ecological effects and proposed umbrella benefits of associated management lack empirical evaluations. Despite a rich theory on top-down ecosystem regulation via mesopredator suppression, a knowledge gap exists relating to the influence of lions ( Panthera leo ) over Africa's diverse mesocarnivore (less than 20 kg) communities. We investigate how geographical variation in mesocarnivore community richness and occupancy across South African reserves is associated with the presence of lions. An interesting duality emerged: lion reserves held more mesocarnivore-rich communities, yet mesocarnivore occupancy rates and evenness-weighted diversity were lower in the presence of lions. Human population density in the reserve surroundings had a similarly ubiquitous negative effect on mesocarnivore occupancy. The positive association between species richness and lion presence corroborated the umbrella species concept but translated into small differences in community size. Distributional contractions of mesocarnivore species within lion reserves, and potentially corresponding numerical reductions, suggest within-community mesopredator suppression by lions, probably as a result of lethal encounters and responses to a landscape of fear. Our findings offer empirical support for the theoretical understanding of processes underpinning carnivore community assembly and are of conservation relevance under current large-predator orientated management and conservation paradigms.

With human influences driving populations of apex predators into decline, more information is required on how factors affect species at national and global scales. However, camera-trap studies are seldom executed at a broad spatial scale. We demonstrate how uniting fine-scale studies and utilizing camera-trap data of non-target species is an effective approach for broadscale assessments through a case study of the brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea. We collated camera-trap data from 25 protected and unprotected sites across South Africa into the largest detection/non-detection dataset collected on the brown hyaena, and investigated the influence of biological and anthropogenic factors on brown hyaena occupancy. Spatial autocorrelation had a significant effect on the data, and was corrected using a Bayesian Gibbs sampler. We show that brown hyaena occupancy is driven by specific co-occurring apex predator species and human disturbance. The relative abundance of spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta and people on foot had a negative effect on brown hyaena occupancy, whereas the relative abundance of leopards Panthera pardus and vehicles had a positive influence. We estimated that brown hyaenas occur across 66% of the surveyed camera-trap station sites. Occupancy varied geographically, with lower estimates in eastern and southern South Africa. Our findings suggest that brown hyaena conservation is dependent upon a multi-species approach focussed on implementing conservation policies that better facilitate coexistence between people and hyaenas. We also validate the conservation value of pooling fine-scale datasets and utilizing bycatch data to examine species trends at broad spatial scales.

Leopards (Panthera pardus) are the only free-ranging large predators to still occur naturally throughout much of Africa, but are vulnerable to habitat loss, ecosystem degradation and persecution. We used a systematic camera trap survey covering an area of ∼3100 km2 in the Little Karoo, a semi-arid biodiversity hotspot in South Africa, to assess the impacts of land use and habitat type on leopard density. Camera data were supplemented by opportunistic scat collection to produce a habitat suitability model. We used a habitat suitability model to inform spatially explicit capture-recapture models used to estimate population density. We recorded 152 independent photographs of 27 individually recognizable leopards at 54 camera stations and collected scats from a further 76 locations. Our habitat suitability model showed that primary productivity and vegetation type were the best predictors of leopard habitat suitability. Our best performing population density model allowed for detection and movement of individuals to vary according to sex, and estimated population density at 1.26 (SE ± 0.25) leopards/100 km2. Our results suggest that the Little Karoo contains large areas of leopard habitat, but that leopards only persist at low densities within this area. Our study serves as an important baseline estimate for leopard populations in mixed land-use, semi-arid areas.

Human impact is near pervasive across the planet and studies of wildlife populations free of anthropogenic mortality are increasingly scarce. This is particularly true for large carnivores that often compete with and, in turn, are killed by humans. Accordingly, the densities at which carnivore populations occur naturally, and their role in shaping and/or being shaped by natural processes, are frequently unknown. We undertook a camera-trap survey in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve (SSGR), South Africa, to examine the density, structure and spatio-temporal patterns of a leopard Panthera pardus population largely unaffected by anthropogenic mortality. Estimated population density based on spatial capture-recapture models was 11.8 +/- 2.6 leopards/100 km(2). This is likely close to the upper density limit attainable by leopards, and can be attributed to high levels of protection (particularly, an absence of detrimental edge effects) and optimal habitat (in terms of prey availability and cover for hunting) within the SSGR. Although our spatio-temporal analyses indicated that leopard space use was modulated primarily by "bottom-up" forces, the population appeared to be self-regulating and at a threshold that is unlikely to change, irrespective of increases in prey abundance. Our study provides unique insight into a naturally-functioning carnivore population at its ecological carrying capacity. Such insight can potentially be used to assess the health of other leopard populations, inform conservation targets, and anticipate the outcomes of population recovery attempts.