IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Thorn, M.; Green, M.; Keith, M.; Marnewick, K.; Bateman, P.W.; Cameron, E.Z.; Scott, D.M. | |
| Large-scale distribution patterns of carnivores in northern South Africa: implications for conservation and monitoring | |
| 2011 Oryx (45): 579-586 | |
Accurate assessment of carnivore population status is frequently hindered by insufficient distribution data. For northern South Africa we address this deficit by mapping new records from landscape-scale sign surveys, questionnaire interviews, problem animal records and camera trapping. The black-backed jackal _Canis mesomelas_ and caracal _Caracal caracal_ remain common and widespread. Ranges of the serval _Leptailurus serval_ and brown hyaena _Hyaena brunnea_ were much larger than previous estimates, reducing the risk of simultaneous extirpation across all occupied locations. The proportion of range area occupied was larger for several species, notably the leopard _Panthera pardus_, cheetah _Acinonyx jubatus_ and serval. We conclude that the serval continues to recover from historical threats and is expanding into new areas. A larger brown hyaena range and less fragmented pattern of occurrence probably confers greater resilience to threats than was suggested by previous data. Reduced extinction risk arising from the increased area occupied by the cheetah and leopard is tempered by probable local range contraction. Our maps provide baseline information for monitoring the distribution of these six species, which is essential in managing ecological issues that have a spatial component such as responses to changing land use. Our results also demonstrate the utility of detection/nondetection surveys in rapid assessment of carnivore populations at large spatial scales. |
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