The background

Black-footed cats are found mainly in the Nama Karoo semi-desert and in the dry savannah areas in southern Africa. They inhabit areas with little rainfall, preferably between 200 – 600 mm per year. Their habitats have been especially threatened since settlement by European immigrants and the ever-increasing influence of humans. While conservation measures have long existed for charismatic large mammals that also live in these areas, such as the cheetah and black rhino, this has not been the case for the black-footed cat until now. A working group started in 2008 under the direction of Dr. Alexander Sliwa, curator at Cologne Zoo, is dedicated to the protection of animals based on scientific data collection.

Our successes

The black-footed cat project is one of the few long-term projects on one of the smaller, little known, wild cat species worldwide. The ongoing collection of comparative data on reproduction, survival rates, migrations, range sizes and their change over the years is of great importance. Knowledge of these important population ecology factors allows for better assessment of the conservation status of such a hidden and rare species. The cat has received the status of “endangered” in the most recent review by the IUCN Red List, but many other rare species have been given a lower risk status on the list.

The project

The working group consists of biologists, conservationists and veterinarians from South Africa, Namibia, the USA and Germany. They want to protect the very rare cat using different measures. Researchers are working in a multidisciplinary way to collect as much information as possible about the biology, spread and health status of the black-footed cat. Such research is the only way effective measures can be taken to ensure the conservation of endangered animals. Cologne Zoo supports our curator Dr. Alexander Sliwa in his research work by providing him with time and resources to do research for several weeks in the home area of the black-footed cat. Dr. Sliwa uses this time, for example, to capture wild animals together with his working group. After being captured, the animals are anesthetised and then given a thorough medical examination. This provides researchers insights into the animals’ state of health. Most animals are equipped with a radio collar before their release and are monitored for several years in order to collect useful comparative data, for example on their dietary habits and the size and use of their hunting areas. Together with local conservationists, the working group also seeks contact with landowners, rural workers and their families, tourism experts and media representatives, and raises awareness about the importance of nature conservation and measures for the conservation of the black-footed cat through lectures and excursions.

The giant anteater

Giant anteaters are loners. The specialised animals feed exclusively on ants and termites, which they lick up with their long, sticky tongue. The IUCN Red List lists the great anteater as endangered. It is already considered extinct in Uruguay and northern Argentina. The destruction of their habitat as well as traffic have created difficulties for the rather slow animal.

Our successes

A German-Brazilian partnership of veterinarians and biologists has been conducting a multi-year research project on ecology and behaviour of the great anteater, which is currently the only project of its kind. This long-term work is possible due among other things to the financial and technical support from Cologne zoo.

The team has gathered an extensive database and great expertise so far. They are exploring the life of the giant anteater in the wild with the help of camera traps and behavioural observations. And they have created an image database of “resident” animals. They were able to observe for the first time that female anteaters have offspring annually. They have also shown that most individuals live in stable, overlapping grazing areas. And they have discovered a previously unknown communication system using scent marks.

The future

Our research continues. We will be equipping giant anteaters with GPS transmitter collars beginning this year. We can track anteater movement patterns for over a year using these collars, even during the flood period. This data is crucial to developing urgently needed conservation plans for the species and its habitat..

The Pantanal

The Pantanal is one of the largest inland wetlands in the world and a centre for biodiversity in South America. During the rainy season, the diverse mosaic of forests, savannahs, rivers and lakes is flooded once a year over a large area. The region has been managed for centuries by traditional, sustainable cattle breeding. In recent decades, however, large parts of the country have been deforested for intensive grazing and charcoal production. Experts estimate that the rich nature of the Pantanal could be lost by 2050 without effective protection.

Shipstern

The International Tropical Conservation Fund (ITCF) has been active in the 100km² Shipstern Nature Reserve in northeastern Belize for 25 years. They consistently protect the valuable resources in the area. The Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative (CSFI), whose rangers have equal power to the police, is responsible for the conservation measures. They fight illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming so corridors and buffer zones are preserved.

Honey Camp National Park & Freshwater Creek Forest

In 2013, the CSFI was mandated by the government to take over protection of Honey Camp National Park and the adjoining Freshwater Creek Forest located further inland. This allowed for the creation of additional important conservation areas. The total space of the three areas managed by CSFI is now 235km².

Our successes

Due to CSFI’s longstanding work and consistent patrols by its rangers, the area around Shipstern and Honey Camp is one of the last seasonal lowland rainforests in Central America that still has a large degree of biodiversity. This wealth of flora and fauna is also made accessible to tourists through targeted programmes. The income from ecotourism, as well as all donations, flow 100 percent to nature conservation efforts. This pays for wages, equipment and fuel, while administrative costs are kept as low as possible. Sustainable forestry practices are being tested in the Freshwater Creek area. Over 200,000 mahogany and other hardwood trees will be planted over the next few years.

The future

The long-term goal is to connect the three protected areas of Shipstern, Honey Camp and Freshwater Creek through eco-corridors. The whole area will be accessible to sustainable tourism, and the generated income will benefit the local population. The International Tropical Conservation Fund’s vision is to transfer the model of Shipstern and its surrounding protected areas to other countries as well.