The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) Boland Project is pleased to announce that Cape Leopards, Popeye (Boland Male / BM17) and Olive (Boland Female / BF14) still frequent the FNB Wines2Whales Mountain Bike (MTB) routes.
Popeye (Boland Male / BM17) patrolling the trails of Pofadder after his collar was remotely dropped. // Photo Credit: Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) Boland Project.
“Old Popeye is still the master of the Groenlandberg,” says Jeannie Hayward of the CLT Boland Project. “After four years of monitoring we still spot Popeye quite regularly around Paul Cluver and Oak Valley Wine Estate. After being collared in May 2013, Popeye helped us gain a lot of insight into the movement and territory of the Cape Leopard. The collar has since been remotely dropped, but Popeye is still patrolling the trails of Pofadder and surrounds”.
“Although it has been almost a year since we last spotted Olive, we believe that she is still around,” continues Hayward. “Females are much less bold than males and sometimes go undetected for months. With regards to other mammals, we have been picking up all the regulars including large spotted genet, small grey mongoose, porcupine, grysbok, honey badger and baboon. We will be checking the De Rust cameras shortly and are excited to see what stories the footage will reveal”.
In 2011 the organizers of the FNB W2W MTB Events donated five digital camera traps to the CLT Boland Project. Placing these cameras along the FNB W2W MTB routes gave the Boland Project the opportunity to survey new locations within the study area, not only for leopard activity but also for the presence of other nocturnal and shy mammals. In addition to the digital camera traps, the organizers of the FNB W2W MTB Events also make an annual donation of R15 000.00 to the Project to further this worthy cause.
Event Information:
Starting in the Winelands of Somerset West, riders cross through (and over) 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas (including the Kogelberg Biosphere) before finishing within sight of the famous whales of Hermanus!
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Adventure: 31 October 2014 until 02 November 2014
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Ride: 03 November 2014 until 05 November 2014
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race: 07 November 2014 until 09 November until 2014
Stage One
Start: Lourensford Wine Estate (Somerset West)
Finish: Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)
Stage Two
Start: Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)
Finish: Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)
Stage Three
Start: Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)
Finish: Onrus Caravan Park (just outside Hermanus)
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About FNB Wines2Whales:
FNB Business and FNB Private Clients have made a joint commitment to sponsor the annual Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Events.
FNB’s ongoing strategy is to support local and community events that show the potential to grow. This sponsorship affirms our dedication to providing an experience that is beyond expectation, through a sport that continues to grow in popularity as one of the key activities in the South African sporting calendar.
The annual FNB Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Events are aligned to our belief that adventure is the heart of innovation and this is one of many platforms on which we seek to make a lasting connection with new and existing clients.
Amazing to see!
Makes me wonder about the Oak Valley 24hr
I'll just have to ride faster!