A subspecies of the African Leopard, the Cape Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus), also known as the “cape mountain leopard“, is named after a specific habitat and geographical region in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape of South Africa. “Cape” refers to the habitat where they’re primarily found, the Cape Fold Mountains, which extend from Table Mountain into South Africa’s Klein Karoo and Great Karoo interior regions. Cape leopards are also known for being smaller than other sub-species of African leopards. For comparison, leopards in savanna regions, like the Kruger National Park, can weigh up to double that of a Cape leopard.
The Cape leopard has a specific range and prefers a particular type of environment. Primarily found in the Cape Fold Mountains, which stretch along the southern coastline from the Western Cape through the Eastern Cape, this includes areas like the Great Karoo, Swartberg Mountains, Cederberg Mountains, Tankwa Karoo, and Cape Peninsula.
The Cape Leopard Monitoring programme is a vital part of Aquila’s Cape Leopard conservation work. The use of camera traps at the sites of recent kills, known cape leopard dens, and even common animal pathways, allow us to closely observe and monitor the reserve’s resident leopards — which are extremely elusive, solitary, and nocturnal by nature.
Aquila is the ultimate South African safari experience close to Cape Town. Home to the Big Five (lions, leopards. elephants, rhinos and buffalo), native Karoo animals (including baboons, springbok, meerkats and caracal), and free-roaming wildlife, the reserve is a thriving 10 00 hectare conservancy in the Western Cape.
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