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Vergelegen spots Cape Leopards

Cape Leopard at Vergelegen, Somerset West

i-africa
Vergelegen, the historic wine farm in Somerset West outside Cape Town, is well known for sightings of top vintages – but excitement peaked last week when a rare adult male Cape leopard, two honey badgers and a caracal were recorded on the estate.

The animals were captured on camera as part of Cape Town’s Leopard Project, a field study on leopard populations within the City of Cape Town.

The leopard study stretches from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve to the Helderberg Nature Reserve and includes all city-owned land as well as private land, explained Hayley-May Wittridge, Manager: Kogelberg and Harmony Flats nature reserves of the City of Cape Town, Biodiversity Management. 


Vergelegen Estate’s managing director, Don Tooth, pledged his support and granted permission for researchers to set up monitoring stations on the property. In addition, the estate purchased its own camera traps to increase the potential monitoring sites available to conduct research. 


Four fixed cameras were installed on the farm in early October at altitudes ranging from 80 to 473 metres above sea level. The cameras have a motion sensor that activates the cameras, which operate using a flash at night.


“We had heard anecdotal evidence that there were leopard on the farm, but this is the first time we have been able to confirm nocturnal sightings on camera, and we are delighted,” said Tooth. “Vergelegen already has a diverse animal population that includes numerous antelope species, snake weasels, silver foxes and spotted genet, and we now have images to confirm the presence of leopard, honey badgers and caracal.”


“The leopard fills the role of the apex predator in the Western Cape ecosystem,” said Wittridge, “and acts as an ‘umbrella species’ which will effectively help in the conservation of smaller, lower profile predators and other species which live and make up the leopards’ home range. It is fantastic to know that these animals are still found within the Helderberg basin and are utilising the areas frequently. 


“Evidence of species such as leopard, honey badgers and caracal on the Vergelegen estate is something to be proud of. In an urban environment, with development and social pressures resulting in the loss of habitat and species, there are few places that are home to a full spectrum of species. Apex predators are usually the first to disappear.”

For more on the estate, visit http://www.vergelegen.co.za/

Spotted Eagle Owl

Tonight I can hear hooo hooo... the sound of Eagle Owls that come around to visit our home every year. It's so nice to hear their sound again, in winter they seem to disappear (according to the expert in the comment below they do not go away in winter). The Helderberg Basin is home to many Owls that come to feast off the rat population in Somerset West. Our feathered friends help control rodents so please do not use Rat Poison that can harm these wonderful owls.

PS: I thought this was the Cape Eagle Owl. However the commentator below corrected me by pointing out that Cape Eagle Owls have red eyes and Spotted Eagle Owls have yellow eyes.

Smallest Tortise In The World

Storm, holding the Cape Speckled Tortise

On, our walk up The Gatouw Pass last weekend, we came across this little tortise crossing the path, along our route.

This is possibly the smallest tortoise in the world, with a maximum carapace (shell) length of about four inches. It's name is the Cape Speckled Tortise or Padloper in Afrikaans. The scientific name is Homopus Signatus Signatus.

The Cape Speckled Tortoises are facing threat of extinction and one should never be tempted to take one home as a pet. These little tortises are also facing huge problems with thier habitat destroyed by fires, foresting, farming and property developments. They are also targeted by illegal syndications that capture them in large numbers for the commercial pet trade. You can help speckled Cape tortoises by not keeping them as pets and reporting any one keeping them to Cape Nature.

Scientists don't know a lot about some of their habits. For instance, little is known about their rituals of courtship, mating, and nesting. They do know that females lay a single egg in summer. This means the tortoises can't reproduce quickly. Yet another reason they must be protected and left in the wild.

Baboons on the way to Rooi Els

Baboons on the way to Rooi Els

I went to see a client in Rooi Els today and what a beautiful day it was. The sea was flat, the sky blue. As I headed out on the scenic route I almost forgot that I was actually on my way to see a client, I mean how many people get to see this view on the way to work?

As I passed through Kogel Bay I came across a troop of baboons playfully running across the road. It was so cute to see all the mommy baboons with their new born spring babies clinging under their tummies. Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I see the beauty around the Helderberg and surrounding areas to make sure I'm not dreaming.

When you visit the area please don't feed them or come close to them as it causes huge problems and sometimes baboons have to be destroyed because of it, they can also be very aggressive.