Going big : home ranges of translocated leopards in the Central Bushveld of the North West Province

Abstract

Home ranges are crucial for terrestrial wildlife as they define the spatial area where individuals satisfy their ecological needs, including foraging, mating, and shelter (Powell & Mitchell, 2012). Establishing and maintaining home ranges contribute to population dynamics, resource partitioning, and overall habitat utilization, influencing the species’ reproductive success and survival (Maher & Lott, 2000). The evolution of home ranges in terrestrial species is intricately tied to ecological and environmental factors, shaped by selective pressures over generations (Mazzamuto et al., 2020); primary drivers of a home-range characteristic include factors such as resource availability, body mass and social dynamics (Campos et al., 2014; Rodríguez-Recio et al., 2022).