Rangers, research and the race to save the Cape leopard

A Ford Ranger is helping conservationists navigate rugged mountain terrain to protect the frequently elusive Cape leopards.

- Glenneis Kriel

Ford Wildlife Foundation's (FWF) support for field-based research and leopard conservation came under the spotlight at a media day recently hosted at Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve near Worcester in the Western Cape.

As part of the event, journalists accompanied researchers from the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) into the field to see firsthand how a Ford Ranger, supplied by FWF, was helping the team carry out crucial conservation work in the region's rugged and often inaccessible mountain terrain.

Dr Katy Williams, research and conservation director at CLT, identified the vehicle as an essential tool in their day-to-day work.

“Our research takes us deep into remote areas where normal vehicles simply cannot go. The Ford Ranger gives us the ability to access field sites, deploy and maintain camera traps, and transport equipment and staff safely,” she said.

Lynda du Plessis, manager of the Ford Wildlife Foundation, said that Ford believed in real-world conservation efforts and practical support.

“The Cape Leopard Trust's work is not only scientifically robust, but community focused, and their team is often working in difficult terrain under tough conditions. Our Rangers are built to go the distance — and so are the people using them to protect South Africa's wildlife.”

But this is not the only wildlife and ecosystem conservation effort supported by Ford. The FWF currently supports 28 projects across South Africa and one in Mozambique, comprising 17 conservation projects, seven research projects and five environmental education projects.

LEOPARDS OF THE CAPE

During the event, Williams also clarified the difference between leopards found in the Cape fynbos region and the rest of Africa.