Maputo Special Reserve loses one of its cheetahs

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Maputo Special Reserve loses one of its cheetahs

6:38 CAT | 15 Nov 2021

FILE PHOTO - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Peace Parks Foundation]

The Maputo Special Reserve, a wildlife conservation area in the southernmost part of Mozambique, has suffered recently the loss of one of the four cheetahs reintroduced in October 2021, as part of the plan to ensure a healthy and balanced animal population within the reserve’s boundaries.

A press release issued by the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) states that the cheetah broke through the fence of the reserve and got caught in a snare, some 4.3 kilometres outside the boundary. The snare may have been placed there by community members in order to catch antelopes, to subsidise their protein requirements.

The cheetah had been roaming the reserve widely as part of the normal ranging activities these big cats typically undertake when exploring a new area.

However, tracking data show that the three remaining cheetahs are continuing to explore all corners of the Maputo Special Reserve. Contrary to what people may believe, cheetahs pose no threat to surrounding communities or to visitors to the reserve, as they are shy animals and avoid direct contact with humans.

Due to their light weight and slight form, they also pose little threat to cattle. The communities have welcomed the reintroduction of the predators as an important part of the development of eco-tourism opportunities that will benefit the region’s people and further conservation efforts.

In order to keep the cheetahs as safe as possible, the reserve’s staff and partners are working round the clock to closely monitor them through satellite collars, VHF tracking and aerial helicopter support. When necessary, they are gently nudged back towards the centre of the reserve.

“We hope that the founder population will soon settle into the core of the reserve that typically has an abundance of preferred prey and is free of threats,” indicates the press release.

Peace Parks, in partnership with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), donors, and other NGOs partners, has a long and successful track record of reintroducing species to areas where they previously occurred.

Over 25,000 animals have been successfully reintroduced to parks throughout southern Africa. Despite many successes, Peace Parks is fully aware of the inherent risks that come with any translocation of wild animals.

In the past decade, a rewilding programme (accelerated under a partnership agreement between ANAC and Peace Parks, with support from various other donors) has seen more than 5,000 animals reintroduced into the Maputo Special Reserve.

Through vastly improved management measures and robust wildlife protection strategies, the reserve has become a safe haven, allowing animal populations to blossom to between 15,000 and 17,000 individuals.

Source: AIM