Title
Evidence for a Resident Population of Cheetah in the Parque Nacional Do Limpopo, Mozambique
Author(s)
Andresen, L.;Everatt, K.T.;Somers, M.J.;Purchase, G.K.
Published
2012
Publisher
South African Journal of Wildlife Research
Abstract
Transboundary protected areas may be important for the conservation of large African carnivores
because these species require large tracts of habitat to maintain viable population numbers and gene
flow. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus Schreber, 1775), is a species that may benefit from transboundary
conservation agreements. It occurs at naturally low population densities,makes use of large home ranges,
and disperses over long distances, thus requiring large tracts of suitable habitat to maintain viable
population numbers. Here we present the first scientific evidence of a breeding population of cheetah in
Parque Nacional do Limpopo (PNL), Mozambique. We obtained data from camera-traps deployed during
occupancy surveys conducted from 9 September 2011 to 31 August 2012 over a 3400 km2 study
area located within the central third of PNL. These results highlight the importance of the Greater
Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTFP) to the overall conservation of cheetah in Africa, and the potential
value of transboundary protected areas for the conservation of wide-roaming terrestrial mammals.
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