Adopt a spot for Cape Leopard Trust
2009-04-16
THE Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), headed up by Quinton Martins, has recently launched a new fundraising initiative called Adopt a Spot. Leopards Leap wines, led by CEO Hein Koegelenberg, contributed half of the R186 000 sponsorship required to get the project up and running in 2004, and has been a proud sponsor ever since. The Adopt-A-Spot Programme is the most recent sponsorship option that allows you ‘time share’ of one of the leopards under the research of the Cape Leopard Trust. The cost of adopting a spot is R500 for the entire year. In return, the Cape Leopard Trust will send the spot adopter photographs and information on that particular leopard on a quarterly basis. This allows many people access to information on a leopard through the adoption of a spot of the leopard they chose. This is also a great opportunity for schools and smaller companies to get involved, that might not have been able to afford the costly adoption of a leopard. The CLT was established with the primary objective of facilitating and promoting research in support of conserving predator diversity in the Western Cape. The conservation strategies include bio-geographical research projects, advisory services relating to farmer-predator interactions and support of an environmental education component. The latter includes a program of community involvement with future emphasis being on job creation among disadvantaged communities within the Cederberg and other study areas. The first funds went towards a vehicle, improved research equipment such as digital cameras, and generation of the largest conservation effort for the Cape leopard. Before the inception of the CLT, the Cederberg experienced high degrees of leopard persecution, where on average seven leopards were killed a year due to farmer-livestock conflict. Since 2004, only two leopards have been killed in a total of five years due to conflict (a much reduced number, but still two too many). Within the Cederberg there are currently 20 to 25 breeding adults, and twelve of them have been fitted with GPS collars, the price of which is R40 000 exclusive of vet fees and sundries. It is expensive work monitoring wildlife, and Leopards Leap is trying hard to facilitate as much funding for the project as possible. The Cape Leopard Trust has also sponsored Anatolian shepherd dogs to conservation-minded farmers significantly altering the views and perceptions of other farmers and landowners in the area. Where properly managed, these dogs are very effective in protecting livestock from predators. For more information on the Cape Leopard Trust or to adopt a leopard spot visit their website on www.capeleopard.org.za.
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