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Coming so soon after ecosystem balance as one of the Cape Pen- a Cape leopard killed 33 insula’s largest remaining natural preda- tors. However, this cat’s vital role should African Penguins from ideally not include feasting on flightless, the Stony Point, Betty’s endangered birds. All of this has put the Bay colony in early June, City of Cape Town and CapeNature, an the question of whether organisation responsible for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape, in a predator or prey should predicament. take priority has become CapeNature chose to act by discourag- a hotly debated topic ing the Cape leopard from returning to the Stony Point penguin colony in Betty’s Bay. collecting its eggs, harvesting its guano It did this by using scent deterrents such for use as fertiliser and overfishing its sta- as lion scat and pepper spray, conducting ple diet of pilchards and anchovies. The random dog patrols and setting up camera first full census on population numbers traps to monitor the penguin colony. At the conducted in 1956 revealed that they had time of going to press, this action appears dropped dramatically from several million to have worked, as the leopard has not been in the 19th century to 150 000 breeding seen in the vicinity since the attack. pairs. A further decline of more than 80 The City of Cape Town, in consultation per cent as a result of shifting prey popu- with BirdLife South Africa, opted to cap- lations, localised fishing pressure around ture the caracal that was preying on the breeding colonies, pollution, habitat de- Burghers’ Walk penguins and release it struction and predators means there are into its original roaming territory in the now just some 26 000 breeding pairs glob- Table Mountain National Park. After trap- ally. Reflecting this rapid population de- ping and tranquilising the animal, a local albert froneman (2) cline, in 2010 the International Union for vet revealed that it was a healthy female Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List that was not pregnant or lactating. Having of Threatened Species classified the Afri- been fitted with a tracking collar, she has can Penguin as Endangered. now become the 27th caracal to be moni- among the The outlook is just as bleak, however, tored by the Urban Caracal Project. for the Cape leopard. These medium- With increasing urbanisation placing sized cats (they are half the size of African ever greater pressure on the Cape’s wildlife, cats savanna leopards) live in mountainous opportunist cats such as caracals and Cape regions of the Cape and, according to the leopards will look for easy prey. While re- Cape Leopard Trust, number only about locating the cat may seem like the best so- penguins 1000 in total. Despite their small num- lution, the Cape Leopard Trust maintains bers, it was inevitable that those individu- that such an animal can destabilise the t is a scene loved by Capetonians and Walk. This made the birds vulnerable to a als occurring in the coastal regions would ecological system into which it is released. THE ALL NEW millions of visitors worldwide alike: spate of predation attempts that occurred eventually come into contact with the The radio-collared caracals may shed some tuxedoed birds waddling in the sand recently. According to a City of Cape mainland penguins. Most African Pen- light on this contentious issue. Iand hopping between giant granite boul- Town media release, in the last week of guins live on islands off the south-western In the meantime, with the help of Af- ders on Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town. June and first week of July at least 20 Afri- coast of Africa where they have never ex- rican Penguin Patron Pamela Isdell, FIELDSCOPE 82ED-A From two breeding pairs recorded there in can Penguins were killed in four separate perienced predators such as leopards or BirdLife South Africa is investigating al- DISCOVER A WORLD OF EXQUISITE 1982, Boulders is now home to more than incidents. Surveillance, which included caracals. While urbanisation and human ternative ways to stop predators coming BEAUTY, in the clearest detail, that will 2000 endangered African Penguins Sphe- camera traps and patrols, revealed the pressure possibly reduced predator num- into contact with the penguins. ‘BirdLife give you impressions to last a lifetime. niscus demersus. predator to be a caracal. bers to levels that allowed penguins to South Africa is grateful to have the pas- The penguins of Boulders Beach and Coming so soon after a Cape leopard breed on the mainland, the risk of preda- sionate support of Pamela Isdell, who surrounds, which form part of the Table killed 33 African Penguins from the Stony tion there is obviously still higher than it is immediately agreed to support our effort - Advanced apochromat delivers real colour with Mountain National Park Marine Pro- Point, Betty’s Bay colony in early June, on the islands. Wild cats, grey and water to end the caracal’s killings by install- high resolution. tected Area, are free to wander around the question of whether predator or prey mongooses, genets and domestic dogs and ing a scent-based deterrent system,’ said - Field Flattener Lens System ensures absolutely a largely protected environment along should take priority has become a hotly cats are all natural predators that could Dr Ross Wanless, Seabird Conservation sharp images throughout the entire field of view. the Simon’s Town coastline. Adjacent to debated topic. target the birds, their eggs and/or their Programme Manager at BirdLife South - With an Optimised Focusing System for fast Boulders Beach, however, a group of pen- There’s no doubt that the African Pen- chicks should the opportunity arise. Africa. ‘Currently we’re working with the focusing that provides different focusing speeds The flightless African Penguin is an easy target guins has set up residence in an unpro- guin is in trouble. Historically, the popu- Ironically, the caracal, which is not en- City of Cape Town on this.’ for optimal operation. for predators at its mainland colonies. tected, public area known as Burghers’ lation crashed as a result of humans dangered, most likely helps to maintain DIONNE MILES - Waterproof performance for inclement weather, sealed with O-rings and packing seals that make them airtight. 12 african birdlife september/october 2016