Spot the leopard?
Declan Morris (24), a student from Adelaide, Australia, is currently doing his doctorate in Veterinary Science at the Loskop Nature Reserve.
He is looking for the leopards roaming the Loskop area.
“My main focus will be the leopards on the reserve but I’m also interested in the leopards off the reserve in the surrounding areas.”
When it comes to leopards off the reserve, there are two channels that the community should follow:
1. If you have any photos of leopards off the reserve (either in the last few years or any time in the future) that you are willing to share with Declan, you can send them to him to add to the database of leopards.
“I can attempt to determine which leopard it is and add it into our database for leopards on and off the reserve.”
Contact him on 063 716 2197 or you can send him an email at declan.morris@student.adelaide.edu.au.
2. Any leopards that are causing a conflict or problems or sighted in an area that could cause problems should still be reported to Jannie de Bruyn on 083 628 1824.
“He will pass on any relevant information to me anyway to add to the database but he is still the go to guy for these issues.”
Declan came to South Africa in April and arrived at the Loskop Nature Reserve six weeks ago.
“I really love it here so far. It’s quite easy to adjust and everybody is friendly. South Africa is pretty similar to Australia.”
He would like to travel the country a bit more when he takes a break from his studies.
There are a lot of people who have helped him so far to get the project to where it is and he would like to thank the following people:
Jeanette Wentzel, Greg Simpson, Jacques van Rooyen from the University of Pretoria, Jannie and Elizma Coetzee from MTPA, Gerrie Camacho, Jannie de Bruyn, Delecia Gunn from the MTPA, Todd McWhorter, Wayne Boardman from the University of Adelaide, the Diepkloof Abattoir, Iaan du Toit, Thys de Wet, Olivia Rynders and Marco Gouws.
