Image: Supplied
CapeNature has confirmed the death of a young male leopard found caught in two illegal gin traps in the Heidelberg area on 2 July.
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The six-month-old leopard, weighing just 13 kilograms, was discovered with one front paw and one hind leg trapped. Despite urgent rescue efforts, the animal unfortunately did not survive.
The incident occurred near the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, a biodiversity-rich region adjacent to the Langeberg mountains and a designated World Heritage Site.
CapeNature has opened an investigation, and a case docket has been registered with the South African Police Service. The use of gin traps without a permit is illegal under both the Western Cape Nature Conservation Ordinance and the Animals Protection Act. Hunting or harming a leopard—classified as a protected species and listed under CITES Appendix I—is a criminal offence.
Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature, highlighted the organisation’s ongoing efforts to work with landowners to implement non-lethal solutions to livestock predation.
“Solutions are always possible through dialogue,” said Naidoo. “The tragic death of this young leopard highlights the importance of adhering to the laws protecting our wildlife.”
Leopards in the Western Cape play a vital ecological role and are currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, having lost an estimated 75% of their historical range.
Despite common misconceptions, studies show that livestock makes up less than 1% of their diet, with most prey coming from wild sources.
Earlier this year, CapeNature also responded to a separate livestock incident involving a mature male leopard near Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve. The leopard was captured, collared, and released under veterinary supervision—and has not attacked livestock since.
To assist farmers and landowners, CapeNature, in partnership with the Cape Leopard Trust, has updated its Landowner’s Guide to Human-Wildlife Conflict. The resource, available in English and Afrikaans, outlines non-lethal, practical methods for coexisting with predators in shared landscapes.
CapeNature is urging members of the public to report any suspected illegal wildlife activity and to support ethical wildlife management practices that protect both biodiversity and livelihoods.
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