Hamilton PH. 1981. The Leopard and the Cheetah in Kenya Part 1. Keywords: 1Afr/1KE/Acinonyx jubatus/cheetah/Leopard/status/survey Abstract: Part 1: Report about the leopard. The related "endangered species" the Cheetah is included in Chapter 4 and 5. A survey and discussion about the status of the species. , I (tt t\ THE LTOPARDPanthera pardus I -t AND THt CFEEIAPAc illllif jubatus IN KENYA ECOLOGY STATUS c0Ns€RvATl0li fiANACE14EIJT R€PORTFON THEU.S.FISH 6 VILDLIFES€RVICE TIE AFRICANVILDLIFE LEADERSHIP FOUIIDATION Al{f) THE 6OVERNHTNTOF K€NYA P. H.HAI4 I LTON r98r ALL RIGHTS RESERVED includingthe . ishi of reproduction in wholeor in part in any form without the permisslonof the author or other the colyright holder for the t imebeing. t' -t_ TAELI OF COIITENTS L IST Oi FI GURES I ( LIST OFIA8LES ACK}IOI'LEDGEI'IEIITS !r4Ilr -I INTRODUCTI ON CHAPTTR? ECOLOGYOF THE !EOPARO 4 2 .1 | tiTRoDUCTI 0ll tr 2.2 STUDYAREAS L 2.3 }IATIRIALS AND XETHODS 2 .\ P.ESULTS 6 2.!.1. captureand radio-trackingresults 2.\ .2. PoPuIat I on densi tY 2.!.3. Reproduction e of riovcment 2.\.\. Extent tc 2.\.5. 0ccuPancYof the hc'nerange 1l 2 .. .6. ActlvitY Peraods ll Z.!.7. Rest irg Pleces 2.{.8. Feedi n9 ecologY 2.1.9. P-rterns of dlgPersion 17 2.4.10. Pat terns of association 2.!.ll' Soclalorganisaticn rB t9 2-5 DT SCUSS I0N ChAPTER3 TRAIiSLOCATIOII ?l I l{TR0DUCT| 0ll tlEiH0 D s ).2.1. CaPtureand taanslocation 3.2.2 - tffnobiI isation 3.2.3. Captive leoPards 3.2.\. Radlo-tracking RISULTS 3.3.1. Radio_tracking9!cce9s j.t.2- f{ovetnentsof trsnslocatcd leoPard5 2t) 3.3.1. Othcr traislocations in Kenya 5.1 Drscussl0N 35 3.1.1. Translocation: criteria for succes5 the lleru study 3-\.2, 39 3.1r.3. Reasonsfor fai lure not do it t.t,t. Translocationi hoh, to r13 3.\.5. Ttan5locat ion i guide-lincs i.l.e. Conclusion: to translocateor not? 7:. CHAPTERtr STATUS0F TH€SPECIESi A SURVEY {.1 tNTBooucTt0N \.2 r.rtTHoos \7 I 4 . ]. STATUSSURVTV 4.3.1 . tormat I 4i \.1.2. TurkanaDistrlct tti ,t.i.3. 8erIngo Dist r ict tt.3.It , Vest Pokot t Elgeyo-llarakr'retDistrlcts .{.J.>. UasinGirhu, TransNzoia, 6l{andi Dist.ic!s 5: {.3.6. Nyanza6 Veste rn P.ovinces \.3.7. Nakuru 6 KerichoDistrlcts 5? 4.3.8. NarokDistrict Kaji6do 0 is t|'l ct !.3.10.Nai robi P.ovince 5t !.3. llachakosE Klt!i 0istricts \,3-12.Centra I Kenya L1 4.3.1).ia it. Di5 t. ict 64 4.3.I!. TsavoNatlonal Park 4.3.r5.Galana 6 Kulalu Ranches 65 {.r.r6.Kwale,Kilifi, tlombasa,6Lan! Dis!ricts 61 4.3.r7.TansRi ver Distric! 6e {.3.r8.Carissa Distrlcr 69 4.3.r9.Vajir 6 HanderaDistricts q.3 .20. lsiolo Distrlct 71 \.3.21.Samburu0istrict 12 harsabit 0istrict TBELTOPARD AS A STOCK.RAIDER 4.{.1. Introd'.rction 4.4.2, Theoccurrence of stock-raiding 75 4. {.l. lecpard control 7t 4.4,1. Sex .atlo of stock-raidingteopards 1i it.4.5. Discussion CHAPTER5 STATUS0F THESPECIES: DISCUSSI0N 5.1. THEI.EOPARD II{ KENYA 5.1.1. ThePasr 6l 5.1.2, The oecline E] 5.1.3, Extentof thc Decllne 84 5.1 .4, Where,Uh€n, and Uhy? 5.1.5. P.egcn!5ta!us 5.!.6. The Leopard'sFuture ln Kcnya 5.2 THEIEOPARD III AFRICA 9: J.3 STATUSOF THTC8EETAH IN KENYAAND AFRTCA CHAPTER6 THELEOPARD A5 A HUNTINGTROPHY O TOURIST ATTRACTION I NTROOUCTION r02 LEGISLATIVE HIsTORY 102 lc3 ( BACKGROUNDTO THI HUNTINGIIIDUSTRY IN KENYA-, 5 .lr THg LEOPARDAS A IIUNTINGTROPHY 105 5.5 THE LEOPAROAS A TOURISTATTRACTION 107 EFFTCTSOF SPORTHUNTIIIC ON LEOPARD POPULATIONS 108 Drscussr0N 6.7.1. To hunt or not to hunt? ll2 6.7.2. tthcre? ltl 6.7.3 . llhen? I llr 5.7.t,. Howmany? I 1/{ 6.7 .5. For ho!/much? 124 6.7.6, By whomand under rvhatconditions? t2l 6.7.7. u,s. legislation t2J 5.7.8. The problemof stock-raiders 12\ 6.7,9, Concluslon t25 CHAPTEP7 CoNStRvATl0N o I4ANAGET4ENTOF THE LIOPARD IN KENYA A PO!ICY 1)1 REFER€NCE5 f1 APPEI.ii'IX I LIST OF FIGURfS observedranges of tcn radlo'collared T3avo leopards, as determinedby the nininufi area ( oethod uslng all locations. - t Ft6.2.2. Adjustedhome ranges of nine radlo-collsred Tsavo leopard9. 9-10 FtG,2 .3 . llovernentsof adult nale Leopard3 during the peri od l7-21 June 1973. Facin9 I l Fr6.3.1.l'leru tlational Park 6nd ru.rounding area. racrng zo FrG.3.2.l,lovementsof Leopard99 In first fortnight after release on 22 Dec 77. Facing 29 FI G.3 .3. l,lovenent5of tuo translocated leoPards re- leased in Tsavol/est National Park in 197C. Faci ng 31 FlG.r.l.Schematicdlagram of the digPersal of trans- iocated lropatds rel€ased in lleru National P.rk, Faci n9 39 - Frc.!.1.Adninistrativedistricts of Kenya. Ir9 5o FlG .Ii.2. Huntingmap of Kenya(1970) showing controlled area block5. \9'5a FrG.{.1.The leopardas a stock-raider. tac Ing /o FrG.5.1.Reletivedensi!ie5 of the leopardpopulations 87-88 F1G.5.2 . Relative densiti€s of the hlnan Populationsof Kenyain 1980. 87-88 FrG.5. 3. Distribution of the leoPard in Kenyain 1963. Faci ng 88 FrG .5 .4. oistribution of the cheetahin Kenyain 1953. racInq >o :{ L IST OF TAELES TASLE2. Observedranges ahd hooe rangesof ten radio- col I ared Tsavo lcopards. Facingl0 _l TABLE!.r Numberof leopardsshot on licence In Kajiado: District in 1965-1973. t7 TA8LE \.2 Leopard5i9htin95 recordedin Nairobi National Pa.k 1912-75. TABLE1r.3. The cheetahpopulation of Nairobi National Park 1973-75. {c 1ABLEtr.4. Stock-raid i n9 questionnai re survey of tli I dl i fe conservation and l'lanagementoePartnent game stations. TASLE{.5. camestctions (.r'ith correction for !eopard) I ist ing carnivoresas gtock-raiders. TABLE4 .5. Leopardsghot .nd traPPedby GovcrnDentagencie5 1957-55and 1977-80. 1ABLE4 .7. Analysis of carnivorecontrol. IAELE4.8. Sexesof 83 leopsrds trapped for transloca!ion. n1-n! Status of the leop€rd in the distrlcts of l(enya. IASL€5.2 . Numbersof special licences bought for leoPards in 1958-73and nuhbersof leopards ehot in con- trol led aleas. a5 TAELE 5.3. Asses5edstatus of leopard populations in Kenya groupedio Censi ty categories. 88 lABL€5. {. Assessedgtatus of the leopard PoPUlationsof Kenyarsdistricts groLipedin density categorleg. Faci n9 89 lABL[ 5.5. E5timateddistrlbution of Kenya'9leoPards. 89 TAEIE 5.1. Contribution of the leopard to sPecial licence revenueand controlled area fees in 1965, 1972' and 1973. 105 TAB!€5.2. Relativecontributlons of different 3Peciesto revenuefrom ggeclal licences. r 05 TABLE5. ]. Reletivecontributlons of different Speciesto local authoritv revenuefron controlled area fee5. 106 TABLE5.q . Con!ribution of the Ieopard to control led area fees earnedby Naroksnd r€jiado county councll5 ln 1965. 106 TABrE6.5. liumberof general and special huntlng I lcences issued.nd revenle derived therefrom in 3elected Years betvreen1959 aod 1974. 107 TA8!E6 .5. Numberof perrnits and licences of various cete_ gorie5 i95uedby the GameDepartment between 1950 and 1974. 1ll ACKNOVL TDGE}IENTS So manypeople have glven n|evalued help one way o. another durlng my leopard gtudies ln Tsavoand l,lerulilational Parkgand durino ny leopard gtatus survey 3lnce then that lt ls dlfficult to knoel where !o begln. 8ut as full acknowledgementsto a1! those whohetped ne in Tsavohave already been glven In Hamilton (1976) lt would be superfluous to repea! themhcre, and lack of space lmposesfurther constraints. I must, holrever,record once agaln rnygpecial apprecae- tion of the help and co-operation recelved from the 0irector and Trusteesof the forfi,erKenya l,lational Parks, the Vardena,]d staff of Tsavol,/es t NationalPark, Dr. L.D. flechof the U.S. Fish andVildllfe Servlce, Dr. J,f,1.Klng of Nairobl, and my tracker/assistant Elui Nrnen!i whovras vltal to the difflcult task of 3tudylng leopards. The Tsavoand l.lerustudles were both hade possible by ttre genercJsfinencial support of the Afric.n t{rildlife LeadershlgFo!n- dation of Vashingtor,0.C.i supportwhich not only Drovidedne nith a vehicle but al50 the use of ltr Cessna185. I am grateful for help received fron all the Foundatlonrsstaff In !,/ashingtonand Naiaobi, but eepecially rhe late J,E. Rhea,the late F. l,tinot,the late R.K. Poole, R. l'lcllvaine, and SandraPrlce. Thelr constant support ano encourager,renthave be!n deeply appreclated€nd I amonly 50rry that not all of themare here to 5ee the fln6l results. Their contributior,s ate not forgotlen. TheU^lted States Flsh andWildlife ServiceOfflce of En- dangeredSpecie5, to b/hichthls report is contracted, provided funding for expaision of r,rystudies to include e detailed survey of the stat.r5 of rhe leopard and has patlently awaited the results. I em grateful for both its financial supporrdnd lts patience. In KenyaI om grateful to the office of the Preiident and to J,K. llutinde, fortner Director of yildllfe Conservatlonand lianage- nen!, for permisslonto caray out this research; to D.|.1.Sindlyo, presentDirector, for his co-operatlonIn organislnga questlonnaire surveyof the Departhen!r5game stations; to P.R. Jenkins,f.l.B.E. who ra5 Vardenof ileru Natlonal Park during ny translocation gtudy anC r{hoseco-operation, advlce, hospltal lty, and frl€ndshlp are especial!i appreciated; to F.V. Voodley,f4.C., 1,1.8,E. and P.M,Snyder, who as Vardensof the llountain l'/ationelPirks at ltfieigaprovided vlrtually al I the leopards I recelved for translocatlon; to V.H.V. Ngonze, Vardenof the Nairobl Anlrnalorphanage, and all the Departmentrsother wardens! too numero{,rsto oention by narne,who provlded infolrnation on leopard5tatus, depredatlons,anC translocations; and to the Vildlife FundTrustees who handledmy researchfunds, lam Indebtedto the followlng past and presentofficers, nogt of thah very senlor, of l(enyaNationel Parks, the GameDepartftent, and the lrildllfe Conservatlonand ]lanagementDepartnent fo.