2010 Progress Report Reporting Period JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER 2010 By Dr. Laurie Marker Executive Director Cheetah Conservation Fund P.O. Box 1755 Otjiwarongo Phone: 067 306225 Fax: 067 306247 Email: [email protected] CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND 2010 Progress Report Page Table of Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 6 II. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ...................................................................................................... 7 III. RESEARCH ....................................................................................................................................... 8 A. Population Dynamics ....................................................................................................................... 8 1. CCF Cheetah Sanctuary Captive Cheetahs ................................................................................. 10 2. Medical Exams of CCF Captive Cheetahs ................................................................................... 11 3. Dental Work, Surgeries and General Health ............................................................................. 13 4. Deaths, Euthanasia, and Necropsies ......................................................................................... 14 B. Health and Reproduction ............................................................................................................... 14 1. Clinical Research: Student Intern Projects ................................................................................ 14 2. Genome Resource Bank ............................................................................................................ 15 3. Applied Biosystems Genetic Conservation Laboratory ............................................................. 15 4. Detection Dogs .......................................................................................................................... 17 C. Large Carnivore Research and Ecology .......................................................................................... 18 1. Cheetah Census ......................................................................................................................... 18 2. Release and Re-introduction ..................................................................................................... 20 3. Collaborative Behavioural Studies ............................................................................................. 25 4. Angola Field Trip ........................................................................................................................ 26 5. Zambia Field Trip ....................................................................................................................... 28 D. Ecosystem Research ....................................................................................................................... 30 1. Weather Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 30 2. Feeding ecology studies ............................................................................................................ 30 3. Game Monitoring and Prey Habitat Preferences ...................................................................... 31 4. CCF Circuit Counts A & B ........................................................................................................... 31 5. Bellebenno 12-hour Waterhole Counts..................................................................................... 34 6. CCF Big Field Counts .................................................................................................................. 36 7. Annual Waterhole Count and CCF Strip Count .......................................................................... 39 8. Wild Game Hunted on CCF Property ......................................................................................... 42 9. Fixed Point Photography ........................................................................................................... 43 10. Bush Encroachment and Biodiversity ................................................................................... 43 11. Swing Gates ........................................................................................................................... 43 12. Non-target Camera Trap Photos ........................................................................................... 44 13. Bellebenno Giraffe Project .................................................................................................... 45 14. GIS Conference ...................................................................................................................... 45 15. CCF Rhino Reserve ................................................................................................................. 46 E. Scientific Publications and Papers Presented ................................................................................ 47 IV. CONSERVATION ............................................................................................................................ 49 A. Livestock Guarding Dog Programme ............................................................................................. 49 1. Programme Overview ................................................................................................................ 49 2. Breeding and Puppy Placements ............................................................................................... 50 3. Farmer’s Puppy Day - Training Programme ............................................................................... 50 Cheetah Conservation Fund Page ii 2010 Progress Report 4. Follow-Up on Prior Placements and Health Survey ................................................................... 50 5. SCC on-going research ............................................................................................................... 51 B. CCF Farm and Livestock Model ...................................................................................................... 52 1. Cattle ......................................................................................................................................... 53 2. Small Stock ................................................................................................................................. 53 3. Boer Goats ................................................................................................................................. 53 4. Dairy Goats ................................................................................................................................ 53 5. Damara Sheep ........................................................................................................................... 54 6. Small Stock Vaccinations and De-worming ............................................................................... 54 7. Hay Production .......................................................................................................................... 54 V. EDUCATION .................................................................................................................................. 54 A. International Training .................................................................................................................... 55 1. International Training Course on Integrated Livestock, Wildlife, and Predator Management . 55 2. International Course in Conservation Biology ........................................................................... 56 3. Farmers’ Training ....................................................................................................................... 62 B. Future Conservationists of Africa .................................................................................................. 62 1. Primary through High School ..................................................................................................... 62 2. Higher Education and In-Service Training ................................................................................. 63 C. Other Collaboration with Educational Institutions ........................................................................ 63 D. Community Outreach..................................................................................................................... 64 E. CCF Staff Education ........................................................................................................................ 65 F. Volunteers and Interns .................................................................................................................. 66 G. Global Management Planning/Policy Involvement ....................................................................... 66 1. International Cheetah Studbook ............................................................................................... 66 2. International Meetings .............................................................................................................. 66 3. Association and Conservancy Relationships .............................................................................. 67 H. Sustainable Economic Programmes Supporting Local Communities & CCF .................................. 69 1. Bushblok ...................................................................................................................................