IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group Library

IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library

View printer friendly
Boast, L.K.; Reeves, H.; Klein, R.
Camera-trapping and capture-recapture models for estimating cheetah density
2015 Cat News (62): 34-37
Camera-trap survey have been used for a variety of species to estimate their density for conservation management. Previous cheetah _Acinonyx jubatus_ camera-trap surveys have used capture-recapture analysis to calculate density from species abundance, by using estimations of cheetah's movements to determine the size of the sampling area. However, this method often overestimates species density. This study used a more recently developed spatial capture-recapture model to calculate cheetah density as 0.32 cheetahs/100 km2 on commercial farmland in Botswana. However, the precision of the density estimate was limited by the number of cheetahs photographed, a common problem in low-density species. We therefore offer recommendations to increase the precision of future camera-trap density estimates.
	PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here