2011 Year-End Progress Report Reporting Period JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER 2011 By Dr. Laurie Marker Executive Director Cheetah Conservation Fund P.O. Box 1755 Otjiwarongo Phone: 067 306225 Fax: 067 306247 Email: [email protected] Table of Contents I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1 II. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ...................................................................................................... 2 III. RESEARCH ....................................................................................................................................... 2 A. Population Dynamics ....................................................................................................................... 3 1. Releases ....................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Medical Exams ............................................................................................................................. 4 3. Deaths, Euthanasia, and Necropsies ........................................................................................... 6 B. Health and Reproduction ................................................................................................................. 7 1. Bio-Medical Research ................................................................................................................. 7 2. Genome Resource Bank .............................................................................................................. 8 3. Applied Biosystems Genetic Conservation Laboratory ............................................................... 8 4. Detection Dogs .......................................................................................................................... 10 C. Large Carnivore Research and Ecology .......................................................................................... 11 1. Cheetah Census ......................................................................................................................... 11 2. Behaviour of captive cheetahs .................................................................................................. 15 3. Release and Re-introduction ..................................................................................................... 17 4. India Reintroduction Project ..................................................................................................... 23 D. Ecosystem Research ....................................................................................................................... 25 1. Weather Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 25 2. Game Monitoring and Prey Habitat Preferences ...................................................................... 25 3. Waterhole Count Research ....................................................................................................... 37 4. Fixed Point Photography ........................................................................................................... 38 5. Bush Encroachment and Biodiversity ........................................................................................ 40 6. Wild Game Hunted on CCF Property ......................................................................................... 43 7. Non-target Camera Trap Photos ............................................................................................... 44 8. Bellebenno Giraffe Project ........................................................................................................ 45 9. Bitter Bush Research ................................................................................................................. 46 10. Swing Gates ........................................................................................................................... 47 11. CCF Rhino Reserve ................................................................................................................. 48 12. Leopard project ..................................................................................................................... 49 E. Scientific Publications and Papers Presented ................................................................................ 50 IV. CONSERVATION ............................................................................................................................ 52 A. Livestock Guarding Dog Programme ............................................................................................. 52 1. Programme Overview ................................................................................................................ 52 2. Breeding and Puppy Placements ............................................................................................... 52 3. Follow-Up on Prior Placements and Health Survey ................................................................... 53 4. Dog Health ................................................................................................................................. 54 5. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Research ................................................................................ 54 6. Student projects ........................................................................................................................ 55 B. CCF Farm and Livestock Model ...................................................................................................... 55 1. Cattle ......................................................................................................................................... 55 2. Small Stock ................................................................................................................................. 55 3. Small Stock Vaccinations and De-worming ............................................................................... 56 4. Hay Production .......................................................................................................................... 57 V. EDUCATION .................................................................................................................................. 57 Cheetah Conservation Fund Page ii 2011 Progress Report A. International Training .................................................................................................................... 57 1. Integrated Livestock, Wildlife and Predator Management ....................................................... 57 2. Conservation Biology ................................................................................................................. 58 B. Local Training ................................................................................................................................. 60 1. Conservancy Game Guards’ Training......................................................................................... 60 2. Farmers’ Training ....................................................................................................................... 61 C. Future Conservationists of Africa .................................................................................................. 62 1. Primary through High School ..................................................................................................... 62 2. Higher Education and In-Service Training ................................................................................. 63 D. Community Outreach..................................................................................................................... 64 E. CCF Staff Education ........................................................................................................................ 64 F. Other Collaboration with Educational Institutions ........................................................................ 65 G. Volunteers and Interns .................................................................................................................. 65 H. Global Management Planning/Policy Involvement ....................................................................... 65 1. International Cheetah Studbook ............................................................................................... 66 2. International Meetings .............................................................................................................. 67 3. Association and Conservancy Relationships .............................................................................. 69 4. Illegal Wildlife Traffic ................................................................................................................. 70 I. Sustainable Economic Programmes Supporting Local Communities ............................................ 71 1. Bushblok .................................................................................................................................... 71 2. Cheetah Country Initiatives ....................................................................................................... 72 3. Eco-Tourism ............................................................................................................................... 74 VI. STRUCTURAL ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................................