Mobile phone technology came to the aid of an injured leopard when Vodacom, overnight, strengthened cellular coverage in the area into which the animal had been released, thereby enabling her rehabilitation to be effectively managed.
The female leopard had been rescued in late September from a gin trap on a farm near Steytlerville in the Eastern Cape. After treatment and collaring with GPS cellular phone collar, the animal was taken to Kuzuko in the northern part of Addo National Park, and released on 29 September.
The operation was a partnership between the Landmark Foundation, South African National Parks and Kuzuko Contractual Reserve.
However, it soon became clear that poor cellular phone reception in the area was hampering critical efforts to track the leopard`s whereabouts and wellbeing through the GPS data from the collar that is continuously monitored through the cellular phone networks.
There was much concern for her due to the injuries she sustained in the gin trap, and the fact that she may have been mauled by the lions in the area.
Vodacom immediately came to the assistance of the rehabilitation efforts and, overnight, arranged for strengthened cellular coverage. This has enabled the Landmark Foundation, SANParks and Kuzuko staff to monitor the movements of this animal at all times.
Says Dr Bool Smuts, director of the Landmark Foundation: "We are able to deduce from the vigorous movements of this leopard that she is doing well and is recovering from the injuries to her hind foot sustained in the gin trap. Without Vodacom, we would have lost valuable data from her and would not have been able to manage her.
"It has also demonstrated for us that these local introductions are successful and, contrary to conventional wisdom, these animals stay in the areas into which they are released. This is the fifth leopard that the Landmark Foundation has introduced into Addo National Park, and they are all doing well. The project has been a great success."
Vodacom Foundation sponsored and has partnered the Landmark Foundation on its Leopard and Predator project since late 2005. The direct result of these efforts has been the successful rescue of 10 leopards by the Landmark Foundation.
"Vodacom Foundation has to be directly credited with the success of this project and for saving the last 10 leopards we have been able to rescue. They saw the need and provided the assistance to establish the rescue service, which is bearing excellent results. They have consistently supported us and are bringing their technologies to bear in a model for sustainable development," says Smuts.
Vuyani Jarana, Vodacom`s Managing Executive Eastern Region, says his company is committed to sustainable development and to assisting the conservation bodies like Landmark Foundation, SANParks and Kuzuko in securing the magnificent biodiversity of our country. "We are proud to have been of assistance to save the leopards. It gives us great pleasure and satisfaction, and we hope to continue being of value to these efforts."
The Landmark Foundation has established a wide-ranging collaboration with many farmers. Large farming areas are now collaborating with Landmark Foundation to roll out holistic predator management strategies, including the introduction of 10 Anatolian Shepard dogs, and Alpacas as sheep herders, and the introduction of about 8 000 sheep protective collars.
The Landmark Foundation also fronts a strong advocacy campaign to rid the country of gin and poison traps. It is also leading a green labelling campaign to establish a predator/leopard-friendly brand of meat to incentivise farmers to embark on holistic practices that aid the conservation of leopards and predators.
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