Cape Leopard Trust camera survey captures rare leopard footage in Piketberg Mountains
The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) runs surveys of Leopards in the mountain regions of the Western Cape to better understand the movements and population count of Leopards for each area.
The most recent survey was conducted in the Piketberg and Olifantsrivier Mountains. How it works...
Game cameras are set up in strategic spots which capture the movements of animals in the area.
This survey consisted of 74 paired camera stations spanning roughly 1500 km2 of mostly unprotected mountainous habitat, interspersed with agricultural land, resulting in a total of 154,000 images.
The cameras are then collected, and the process of identification can begin. This survey captured these highlights:
Thirty-one wild mammal species were identified, including aardwolf, aardvark, Cape fox, striped polecat, and even an African snake weasel and black-backed jackal.
The cameras also recorded several bird species, including spotted eagle-owl, jackal buzzard, rock kestrel, purple and grey heron, a spotted thick-knee and a pied kingfisher.
The survey recorded leopards at 54 out of the 74 camera locations, while a total of 45 different adult cats were identified.
These observations help with research and encourage reporting and the prevention of livestock losses by predators. The result shows...
Leopards are 'surviving' in the mountains of the Cape, as they have been for years.
A standout moment for Hayward from the survey was seeing more than one leopard on camera.
Typically, leopards spend their lives alone, and the only time you see two leopards together is when it's a mother with a cub, which is also a rare sight.
However, in this survey, a rare moment caught three hours of two leopards' mating behaviour on camera.
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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
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SA charges into Antarctic talks — ‘Not a pacifist' but definitely pro-penguin
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'The interdependencies are too big for them to be separated,' he says. 'The last few months have been used to create a process that is inculcated into the memory of the system, rather than being dependent on any one individual.' South Africa's ace: A top icebreaker and the Southern Ocean The thing that gets Johnson waxing lyrical more than any other is oceanography. Beneath the tip of the African continent churns one of the most scientifically prized ocean systems on Earth. It's here that warm and cold currents from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans collide, and massive eddies spin off into global circulation patterns. 'To deconstruct all that scientifically takes a lot of effort,' says Johnson. At the centre of this footprint is the SA Agulhas II, the country's icebreaking research and logistics vessel. Johnson says he wants to reposition the ship as a high-performance scientific platform and a diplomatic asset. In 2022, she was used to track down Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance wreck. New collaborations are being discussed, including joint research with French and Norwegian scientists during upcoming voyages. 'I want the vessel to be used as optimally as possible,' Johnson says, citing student training as a national priority. South Africa steps ahead, the US steps back In June, the South African anti-apartheid activist and lawyer Cormac Cullinan netted the Royal Geographical Society's Shackleton medal for a campaign to transform the Antarctic environment into a legal person who can be defended in court. That makes this South African the first-ever Antarctic winner of the prestigious polar medal that has traditionally focused on the Arctic. The Pretoria University-educated Professor Steven Chown, based at Australia's Monash University since 2012, is one of the world's most cited Antarctic scientists with an H-Index of 112. 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Authoritarian allies in Milan The treaty is the only existing legal dam holding back a neocolonial land grab. On the other hand, the ATCM's insistence on holding its annual talks behind closed doors, and preventing the press from observing the substance of those talks, are reliable indicators of this system's insecurities. Make no mistake: the 'frozen' territories claimed by seven states may seem out of sight at the bottom of the planet, but to the claimants they are massively important. Canberra's wedge is almost three times larger than Greenland. The overlapping slice counterclaimed by Buenos Aires, London and Santiago? It also eclipses Greenland by about three times. It may be within the interest of these influential states, then, to keep critics outside the room. As the second country after the UK to ratify the treaty on 21 June 1960, Pretoria may be one such possible insider critic, as it takes a dim view of neocolonial ambitions in the southern regions. So, can it adopt a more assertive position in Milan — one that mirrors its tough stance on Israel's incursions into Gaza? Or does it remain compromised as long as it refuses to condemn Moscow's illegal actions in Ukraine, a fellow consultative party? President Cyril Ramaphosa received President Volodymyr Zelensky in April and Cape Town has served as the refuge for Ukraine's polar vessel, the Noosfera, since February 2022. For Johnson, South Africa's 'non-aligned' stance is a negotiating strength with the most obstructive actors at the negotiating table. 'We want a much more active engagement with the Russian and Chinese delegations,' Johnson notes. 'Perhaps we can edge them closer to a conservationist approach.' He is adamant: 'It's not going to change our position … 'We have always been peace brokers as a country — so what I'd like to do this year is find out what are those things they are prepared to give up in order to gain something else? And then see if South Africa is comfortable with it.' DM
Daily Maverick
7 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Leading Change: Prof Hester C. Klopper Charts Bold Course for the University of the Free State
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She indicated that the UFS' purpose is embedded in five intersected and interconnected strategic pillars, four guardrails, and a concise action plan. Five Strategic Pillars for the Future Academic Excellence and AI-Enhanced Research Impact tops her agenda. Rather than viewing artificial intelligence as a threat, Prof Klopper envisions it as amplifying human creativity. The university will pursue transdisciplinary research tackling climate change, inequality, and technological disruption. Institutional Agility in the Age of Exponential Change addresses the bureaucratic bottlenecks plaguing modern universities. A comprehensive digital systems maturity model aims to create seamless experiences while ensuring that systems serve people, not bureaucracy. Transformational Culture for a New Generation goes beyond compliance to create an environment where emotional intelligence, creativity, and adaptability are valued alongside technical knowledge. 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Four Guardrails for Success Four non-negotiable guardrails will assist the university in guiding this transformation: The Irreplaceable Heart of the UFS is its People, as human connection becomes more precious in the age of artificial intelligence. The Strategic People Development Strategy will assist in building leadership capacity for the digital age. Leading Through Partnership in the Age of Collaboration will require 'unified leadership with a unified purpose'. From Vision to Innovative Reality will keep the university focused on the execution and transformative impact of its actions. Responsible Societal Futures will be the institution's North Star, ensuring that knowledge serves justice, sustainability, and humanity. A Seven-Point Action Plan Moving beyond vision to execution, Prof Klopper announced concrete steps that are already in motion: Establishing a Transdisciplinary Innovation Hub on the South Campus in Bloemfontein to drive research, commercialisation, industry partnership, and student entrepreneurship. Transdisciplinary research within thematic research areas. Optimisation of professional and support services through the alignment and streamlining of functions. Systematically reviewing the academic programme portfolio. A strategic people development strategy driven by the soon-to-be-launched UFS Training Academy. Implementing a comprehensive transformation scorecard. Creating the UFS Knowledge Enterprise and UFS Commercial entities for income diversification. Walking Into History Prof Klopper's vision positions the UFS not just as a follower of global trends, but as a leader in defining what African universities can become in the digital age. The journey has begun. The destination: a university that does not just adapt to the future but actively shapes it. 'We walk together towards responsible societal futures, unified in purpose, committed to excellence, and determined to make the University of the Free State a beacon of hope for our city, our province, our nation, our continent, and our world.' DM Contact Us: Bloemfontein Campus: +27 51 401 9111 Qwaqwa Campus: +27 58 718 5000 South Campus: +27 51 401 9111 [email protected] UFS social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
IOL News
17-06-2025
- IOL News
Leading Change: Prof Hester C. Klopper Charts Bold Course for the University of the Free State
Attending the installation ceremony were, from the left: Mr David Noko, Chairperson, UFS Council; Mrs Tirelo Sibisi, Vice-Chairperson, UFS Council; Prof Hester C. Klopper, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal; Ms Mimmy Gondwe, Deputy Minister of Higher Education; and Prof Bonang Mohale, Chancellor of the UFS. Image: supplied History was made at the University of the Free State (UFS) as Prof Hester C. Klopper was officially inaugurated on 9 June 2025 as the institution's 15th Vice-Chancellor and Principal – and the first woman to hold this prestigious position in the institution's 121-year history. Presented in the Odeion Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus and attended by a wide variety of university stakeholders, high-profile guests, and staff, the installation ceremony was a momentous occasion, marked by celebratory moments. Prof Klopper's inauguration address, titled Walking Together with Purpose: Unlocking Excellence to Lead Change, unveiled an innovative vision that promises to reshape the UFS and South Africa's higher education landscape for the digital age. Bold new ventures include two major funding initiatives, as well as the launch of a Veterinary Science programme at the UFS, making it only the second institution in South Africa to offer this qualification. It all forms part of a vision to transform the UFS into a research-led powerhouse that harnesses artificial intelligence responsibly while preserving human connection and an African identity. Creating responsible societal futures is at the centre of this vision. Mr David Noko, Chairperson of the UFS Council, congratulates Prof Hester C. Klopper on her installation as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS. Image: supplied Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading AI Revolution in Higher Education During her inauguration address, Prof Klopper expounded on the educational crossroads facing universities worldwide. While artificial intelligence capabilities double in power every few months, she argued, educational systems remain frozen in 19th-century models. "We are preparing students for a world that is transforming faster than we can imagine, using methods designed for a world that no longer exists," she declared. Prof Klopper has a clear vision for UFS graduates. In a world where AI can process information faster than humans and generate content more efficiently than writers, she urged for a critical evaluation of what makes graduates valuable. "Not their ability to memorise information – AI can do that infinitely better," she explained. "What will make them irreplaceable is their ability to think creatively, empathise deeply, ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and work collaboratively with both humans and artificial intelligence." Innovative Abilities within the UFS Prof Klopper's approach is not about importing solutions from elsewhere. Through extensive engagement with staff, students, and stakeholders since her appointment on 1 February 2025, she has reached the encouraging realisation that the required innovative abilities already exist within the UFS. "How do we further unlock the potential that lies dormant in our own university?" she asked. The answer, she believes, lies in one powerful concept: connection. Transdisciplinary teaching and research and regional and global collaboration form a fertile breeding ground for cutting-edge innovation. She indicated that the UFS' purpose is embedded in five intersected and interconnected strategic pillars, four guardrails, and a concise action plan. Five Strategic Pillars for the Future Academic Excellence and AI-Enhanced Research Impact tops her agenda. Rather than viewing artificial intelligence as a threat, Prof Klopper envisions it as amplifying human creativity. The university will pursue transdisciplinary research tackling climate change, inequality, and technological disruption. Institutional Agility in the Age of Exponential Change addresses the bureaucratic bottlenecks plaguing modern universities. A comprehensive digital systems maturity model aims to create seamless experiences while ensuring that systems serve people, not bureaucracy. Transformational Culture for a New Generation goes beyond compliance to create an environment where emotional intelligence, creativity, and adaptability are valued alongside technical knowledge. The focus extends to curriculum innovation and deep societal connection. Systemic Sustainability and Strategic Responsible Investment tackles the financial realities facing higher education. Two new initiatives demonstrate this commitment: The VC-ISRC Imbewu Legacy Fund for student support (already boosted by R1,3 million from the Motsepe Foundation, matched by the UFS) and the Talent Magnet Fund to attract world-class academics. Collaborative Innovation and Global Integration breaks down artificial barriers between disciplines, institutions, and sectors. Rather than working in isolation, Prof Klopper envisions building future-fit partnerships. 'My vision is for the UFS to become an Innovation Hub – a true Entrepreneurial Knowledge Ecosystem, thriving on the creative synergy produced when our best academic minds work together across our three campuses, allowing us to be the very best we can be.' Four Guardrails for Success Four non-negotiable guardrails will assist the university in guiding this transformation: The Irreplaceable Heart of the UFS is its People, as human connection becomes more precious in the age of artificial intelligence. The Strategic People Development Strategy will assist in building leadership capacity for the digital age. Leading Through Partnership in the Age of Collaboration will require 'unified leadership with a unified purpose'. From Vision to Innovative Reality will keep the university focused on the execution and transformative impact of its actions. Responsible Societal Futures will be the institution's North Star, ensuring that knowledge serves justice, sustainability, and humanity. A Seven-Point Action Plan Moving beyond vision to execution, Prof Klopper announced concrete steps that are already in motion: Establishing a Transdisciplinary Innovation Hub on the South Campus in Bloemfontein to drive research, commercialisation, industry partnership, and student entrepreneurship. Transdisciplinary research within thematic research areas. Optimisation of professional and support services through the alignment and streamlining of functions. Systematically reviewing the academic programme portfolio. A strategic people development strategy driven by the soon-to-be-launched UFS Training Academy. Implementing a comprehensive transformation scorecard. Creating the UFS Knowledge Enterprise and UFS Commercial entities for income diversification. Prof Hester C. Klopper, 15th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS and the first woman to lead the university in its 121-year history. Image: Supplied Walking Into History Prof Klopper's vision positions the UFS not just as a follower of global trends, but as a leader in defining what African universities can become in the digital age. The journey has begun. The destination: a university that does not just adapt to the future but actively shapes it. 'We walk together towards responsible societal futures, unified in purpose, committed to excellence, and determined to make the University of the Free State a beacon of hope for our city, our province, our nation, our continent, and our world.' Contact UFS: Bloemfontein Campus: +27 51 401 9111 Qwaqwa Campus: +27 58 718 5000 South Campus: +27 51 401 9111 info@ UFS social media Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: YouTube: University of The Free State Image: Supplied
