Abstract:
Large mammalian carnivores are threatened by anthropogenic environmental
impacts, particularly through habitat loss which often cause population declines.
Understanding the extent of suitable habitat is therefore of great importance for
carnivore conservation. The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a widespread and relatively
common large carnivore, but the species is declining in large parts of its
range. Using maximum entropy-based habitat models, we estimated the extent of
suitable leopard habitat in South Africa, what variables that are associated with
suitable leopard habitats, the extent of habitat that has been negatively impacted
by human activity and the effectiveness of protected areas to capture suitable
habitat. Suitable leopard habitat was highly fragmented. Although vegetation and
physical variables were the most influential variables for habitat suitability,
livestock farming primarily seem to underlie fragmentation. We suggest that the
sustainability of the South African leopard population depends on maintaining
dispersal routes between areas with suitable habitat. This will require mitigation of
human–carnivore conflict in habitat corridors, particularly mitigation strategies
targeting conflict between carnivores and livestock farmers. Because most suitable
habitat occurred outside of protected areas, we also recommend that leopard
conservation efforts should focus on areas that are not legally protected.
