Evaluating the success of phased-release reintroductions for captive-born cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in South Africa

Thesis (MScConsEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global cheetah population has declined to an estimated 7,100 individuals, with half the global population currently found in southern Africa. Where natural metapopulation dynamics are no longer possible, human mediated gene flow is coordinated in the form of managed metapopulations. In 2011, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT, South Africa) established a Cheetah Metapopulation Project (CMP) to ensure the genetic and demographic viability of cheetah on small, fenced reserves in South Africa. Research from the CMP indicates that a new source population is required to ensure new genetics enter the metapopulation as the current rate is below the required four individuals per year. A phased-release method, consisting of two distinct phases, allows for the reintroduction of captive-born cheetah into the cheetah metapopulation in South Africa. The limited research on the reintroduction of captive-born carnivore studies indicates that captive-born cheetah are able to express behaviour seen in wild-born cheetah. This study aimed to provide an evaluation of a phased-release methodology for the reintroduction of captive-born cheetah in South Africa. This was achieved by determining criteria to evaluate the behavioural, spatial, and foraging ecology of each captive-born cheetah at both an individual-level and a population-level to allow for comparisons with wild-born cheetah and other methods of captive release. Post-release movements were calculated at month intervals, using data from GPS collars and post-release monitoring data from October 2019 to August 2021. Home-range (95%) and home-range overlap estimates were established for all cheetah. Of the twelve cheetah released following the phased-release method, five individuals settled after an exploration period, while five other individuals were still in their exploration stage at the end of the current study. The twelve cheetah used all available habitat types at some point during their movements, and all females birthed their first litter within seven months post-release. Alterations to a male cheetah’s social group also caused a change in habitat utilisation. Nineteen different prey species were identified at kill sites and prey consumption estimates indicated that the majority of the cheetah were able to reach the monthly energy requirement, although excessive supplement feeding was provided unjustifiably for four individuals. Body condition scoring and monitoring of kill sites was dependant on consistent monitoring which, when compromised or inconsistent, proved to limit the accuracy of these criteria. The criteria used for the evaluation of behavioural, spatial, and foraging ecology, proved successful on an individual level, and indicated areas that needed further investigation. When applied to a population level, phased-release cheetah showed similar characteristics to those of wild-born cheetah. It is recommended that the evaluation of this phased-release method is continued over a longer time period to further determine the success of this release method.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreldwye jagluiperdbevolking het tot 'n geraamde 7,100 individue afgeneem, met die helfte van die wêreldbevolking wat tans in Suider-Afrika voorkom. Waar natuurlike metapopulasiedinamika nie meer moontlik is nie, word mens-gemedieerde geenvloei gekoördineer in die vorm van bestuurde metapopulasies. In 2011 het die Trust vir Bedreigde Natuurlewe (EWT, Suid-Afrika) ’n Jagluiperd-metabevolkingsprojek (CMP) gestig om die genetiese en demografiese lewensvatbaarheid van jagluiperds op klein, omheinde reservate in Suid-Afrika te verseker. Navorsing van die CMP dui daarop dat 'n nuwe bronpopulasie nodig is om te verseker dat nuwe genetika die metapopulasie binnedring aangesien die huidige koers onder die vereiste vier individue per jaar is. 'n Gefaseerde vrystellingmetode, wat uit twee afsonderlike fases bestaan, maak voorsiening vir die herinvoering van jagluiperds wat in gevangenskap gebore is in die jagluiperd-metapopulasie in Suid-Afrika. Die beperkte navorsing oor die herinvoering van gevangene-gebore karnivoor studies dui daarop dat gevangen gebore jagluiperds in staat is om gedrag uit te druk wat gesien word in wild gebore jagluiperds. Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om 'n evaluering te verskaf van 'n gefaseerde vrystellingmetodologie vir die herinvoering van jagluiperds wat in gevangenskap gebore is in Suid-Afrika. Dit is bereik deur kriteria te bepaal om die gedrags, ruimtelike en vreet-ekologie van elke jagluiperd wat in gevangenskap gebore is te evalueer op beide 'n individuele vlak en 'n bevolkingsvlak om vergelykings met wildgebore jagluiperds en ander metodes van vrylating in gevangenskap moontlik te maak. Na-vrystelling-bewegings is met maandelikse tussenposes bereken, met behulp van data van GPS-halsbande en na-vrystelling moniteringsdata van Oktober 2019 tot Augustus 2021. Tuisafstand- (95%) en tuisafstand oorvleuelingsskattings is vir alle jagluiperds vasgestel. Van die twaalf jagluiperds wat vrygelaat is volgens die gefaseerde vrystelling-metode, het vyf individue na 'n eksplorasieperiode gevestig, terwyl vyf ander individue nog in hul eksplorasiestadium was aan die einde van die huidige studie. Die twaalf jagluiperds het op 'n stadium tydens hul bewegings alle beskikbare habitattipes gebruik, en alle wyfies het hul eerste werpsel binne sewe maande na vrylating gebore. Veranderinge aan 'n jagluiperdman se sosiale groep het ook 'n verandering in habitatbenutting veroorsaak. Negentien verskillende prooispesies is by doodmaakplekke geïdentifiseer en prooiverbruikskattings het aangedui dat die meerderheid van die jagluiperds in staat was om die maandelikse energiebehoefte te bereik, alhoewel oormatige aanvullingsvoeding onregverdig vir vier individue verskaf is. Liggaamstoestandtelling en monitering van doodmaakplekke was afhanklik van konsekwente monitering wat, wanneer dit gekompromitteer of teenstrydig was, bewys het om die akkuraatheid van hierdie kriteria te beperk. Die kriteria wat gebruik is vir die evaluering van gedrags-, ruimtelike en vreet-ekologie, was suksesvol op individuele vlak, en het gebiede aangedui wat verdere ondersoek benodig. Wanneer dit op 'n bevolkingsvlak toegepas word, het gefaseerde vrystelling jagluiperds soortgelyke eienskappe getoon as dié van wildgebore jagluiperds. Dit word aanbeveel dat die evaluering van hierdie gefaseerde vrystellingmetode oor 'n langer tydperk voortgesit word om die sukses van hierdie vrystellingmetode verder te bepaal.Master