Stretching out : leopard home-range expansion in response to suppressed population density in a recovering post-war landscape

Abstract

Large carnivores have profound regulatory effects on ecosystems and provide substantial socio‐economic benefits. However, mounting anthropogenic pressures are driving their global decline, threatening many species with extinction. Leopards, in particular, face challenges due to their wide‐ranging behavior, which exposes them to conflict with people and bycatch snaring, highlighting the importance of understanding their spatial ecology to develop more effective conservation strategies. This study aimed to estimate the home‐range size of female leopards (n = 4) within the Zambezi Delta, a unique mesic landscape undergoing broad‐scale ecological recovery in central Mozambique. Home‐range sizes ranged from 46 to 365 km2, falling within the range of global estimates. Surprisingly, these home‐range sizes, along with additional parameter estimates such as daily distance moved and home‐range overlap, were most comparable with those reported in arid environments. With female leopards appearing to occupy larger areas than theoretically required based on energetic needs, it is plausible that their spatial ecology is likely influenced by low population density. As the population recovers, we anticipate a re‐structuring of socio‐spatial dynamics driven by dispersal‐regulated processes, with females likely contracting their home‐range and partitioning them to their philopatric daughters. This study provides the first robust estimation of leopard home ranges in Mozambique and provides critical insights into the spatial ecology of leopards in a post‐war landscape. We recommend long‐term monitoring to track changes in population demographics and socio‐spatial dynamics as restoration efforts continue across central Mozambique.