Cheetah Conservation Botswana’s, Marie-Charlotte Gielen and Leopard Ecology & Conservation’s Alessandro Araldi led a group of researchers in the publication of a new scientific paper titled: “Refining population density estimation from track counts: Improving daily travel distance estimates through trailing of large herbivores in the Kalahari, Botswana” in the 13th Volume of the Movement Ecology journal.
 
The team sought to demonstrate that traditional animal track surveys can enable rapid population monitoring for conservation – provided that researchers have a suitable base material (e.g. sand), and work with highly skilled trackers. Previous studies have used the Formozov–Malyshev–Pereleshin (FMP) formula which converts track counts along transects – invisible lines or existing roads cutting through particular points in a landscape – into full population density estimates, using the species’ average daily travel distance estimate. Gielen and Araldi’s study demonstrated the effectiveness of the forward trailing technique (i.e. recording an animal path in the landscape by following its footprints) for accurately estimating the average distance large herbivores travel in 24h in sandy areas. For Kalahari species for which such empirical data are not available, the study also provides coefficients to directly correct allometric estimate of daily travel distance (i.e. distance estimated from the species body mass – larger species do travel more daily to access the resources they need).  Such improved average daily travel distance estimates allowed to deliver more accurate density estimates for multiple herbivores species across 2800km² of protected areas in the Kalahari. They can also be applied to refine density estimates from other existing surveys.

​While you may be oblivious to it, your domestic cat uses Scent-based communication in the cat family is a trait that has remained throughout feline evolution. Even for your domestic cat, letting other cats know that they exist is their way of laying their stamp of ownership on you and your home. Cheetahs – much like other big cats – do the same thing, but on a much larger scale in the vast wilderness that they occupy. With these facts known, what still remains quite obscured is how this communication affects their behaviour towards each other even in absence.
 
Research involving placing camera traps at identified marking trees has been one useful way to take a peek into this olfactory communication system. Videos and images from these camera traps not only help with observing behavioural patterns of cheetahs, but they also give researchers an impression of their presence and population density. This is one of CCB's longest running research projects, as we have been monitoring cheetah marking trees in the Ghanzi commercial farms consistently since 2008. Data so far has revealed peak visitation times (indicating activity patterns), sex bias at trees (males visit significantly more than females), inter-species dynamics (including an interesting altercation between a cheetah and a brown hyena seen at a marking tree at the same time) and behaviours relating to male territoriality.
 
Being shy cats, cheetahs can be quite illusive to those seeking to keep an eye on them. As such, employing this silent monitoring approach at trees located on commercial farms provides us with a multi-layered data gathering system. Between anecdotal accounts from farmers and visual data from the cameras, our researchers are building frameworks to understand how trends such as fluctuating visitations may affect current perceptions of cheetah populations in the Ghanzi region. As the research is ongoing, changes in trends are expected. However, it is essential that we continue to look closely at what is happening now, to enable us to forecast what may lie ahead.

​Cheetah Conservation Botswana honours Dame Jane Goodall – an icon of compassion and tireless advocacy for the natural world. Her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees redefined our understanding of animal intelligence and emotion, but her legacy reaches far beyond primates. Through the Jane Goodall Institute and her global Roots & Shoots movement, she has inspired generations to act with empathy and courage for all living beings. Though we are deeply saddened that she has journeyed beyond this life, we find comfort in knowing her legacy will not only endure – it will flourish. Alongside other icons of conservation, she planted the seeds of wildlife protection with vision and grace, and today, countless hearts are devoted to nurturing those seeds into lasting change. Her spirit lives on in every act of care, every voice raised for the wild. Indeed, there is hope.
 
At Cheetah Conservation Botswana, we will carry forward the spirit of her mission: to protect wildlife through science, community engagement, and ethical stewardship. Like Dr. Goodall, we believe conservation must be rooted in respect – for animals, ecosystems, and the people who share their landscapes. She would often remind us, that every voice matters, and that hope is a powerful tool for change. Dr. Goodall’s unwavering belief in coexistence and education continues to guide our work with rural communities, empowering young leaders and promoting harmony between cheetahs and people. Her life is a testament to what’s possible when passion meets purpose.
 
With deepest gratitude, we thank you Jane, for your lifetime of unwavering devotion – a legacy shaped by insight, integrity, and enduring resolve that continues to illuminate the path for conservationists, communities, and all who strive for harmony between humanity and the wild. We celebrate your enduring influence on conservation in Africa and around the world. You may no longer walk beside us, but you will continue to guide us from beyond, motivating bold action with gentle wisdom. The strength of your legacy is not just in what you achieved, but the ongoing change that you will continue to inspire.
 
With great respect and thanks from all of us at Cheetah Conservation Botswana, re a go tlotla ebile re a go leboga, Mme Goodall.

​In mid-September, Rethabile Setlalekgomo, our Human-Wildlife Coexistence (HWC) Coordinator, in collaboration with representatives from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Problem Animal Control Unit – Mr. Lebotse and Mr. Kwenaemang, hosted a workshop with the Kacgae community, which included farmers and village leadership. The aim of this session was to introduce the HWC department and the farming community to each other and seek their support as we explore ways to work together in reducing human-wildlife conflict and promoting coexistence.
 
The team shared their plans to conduct questionnaire surveys with farmers, with DWNP highlighting the importance of community involvement to ensure that no one is left out of future programs. Rethabile also presented some of the HWC mitigation measures currently in place, while explaining that their first actions will be to gather information such that they may better understand the conflict levels at various cattle posts before committing to specific actions. Both DWNP and CCB stressed the importance of reporting predation cases to DWNP offices, as these reports help verify and guide findings from surveys, such as the one about to be undertaken.
 
We remain ever grateful for the collaborative relationships we have with farming communities, village leadership, and government departments as they make the work of building comprehensive understanding of coexistence and conservation more efficient and sustainable. With project activities in New Xade having started in 2023 – with trials of the horse patrol programme, which developed into a fully-fledged operation with support from the Lion Recovery Fund – this expansion is a great milestone and reminder of the need for continuous growth to understand the dynamic landscape we operate in.