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Keywords: cheetah; conservation policy; human-carnivore conflict; India; Namibia; re-introduction; translocation EN cheetah conservation policy human-carnivore conflict India Namibia re-introduction translocation 1 3 3 06/12/23 20230601 NES 230601 African cheetahs brought to India need more space: the introduction project needs to consider the spatial system of free-ranging cheetahs. The Asiatic cheetah ( I Acinonyx jubatus venaticus i ) has been extinct in India for 70 years and its government has introduced on September 17, 2022, eight cheetahs from Namibia and on February 18, 2023, 12 cheetahs from South Africa ( I Acinonyx jubatus jubatus i ) into their country. [Extracted from the article]

In Namibia, leopards (Panthera pardus) are widely distributed, used commercially as trophy animals and are often persecuted for perceived or real predation on livestock and valuable game species outside protected areas. Therefore, leopard populations living in protected areas might be important source populations and for maintaining connectivity. Little data on their population sizes and densities are available from the northern part of the country, particularly from protected areas. Here, we estimated leopard densities using a spatial capture–recapture approach in northern Namibia: (i) the Khaudum National Park (KNP) in north-east Namibia with an annual average rainfall of 450 mm and (ii) the Lower Hoanib River (LHR) in north-west Namibia with an annual average rainfall of 25 mm. With an effort of 2430 and 2074 camera trap nights in the KNP and LHR, respectively, 11 adult female and six adult male leopards were identified in the KNP, whilst only one adult female leopard was detected once in the LHR. For the KNP, a maximum likelihood approach (using the package SECR) revealed a density estimate of 2.74 leopards/100 km2, whereas a Bayesian approach (using the package SPACECAP) revealed a density estimate of 1.83 leopards/100 km2. For the LHR, no density estimate could be determined and it is suggested that the leopard density in such an arid environment is low. These are the first leopard density estimates based on camera trap surveys provided for these protected areas and thus of importance for further monitoring programs to understand leopard population dynamics. We discuss our findings with current habitat changes and conservation measures in both study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retractable larynx and adaptations of the vocal folds in the males of several polygynous ruminants serve for the production of rutting calls that acoustically announce larger than actual body size to both rival males and potential female mates. Here, such features of the vocal tract and of the sound source are documented in another species. We investigated the vocal anatomy and laryngeal mobility including its acoustical effects during the rutting vocal display of free‐ranging male impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus) in Namibia. Male impala produced bouts of rutting calls (consisting of oral roars and interspersed explosive nasal snorts) in a low‐stretch posture while guarding a rutting territory or harem. For the duration of the roars, male impala retracted the larynx from its high resting position to a low mid‐neck position involving an extensible pharynx and a resilient connection between the hyoid apparatus and the larynx. Maximal larynx retraction was 108 mm based on estimates in video single frames. This was in good concordance with 91‐mm vocal tract elongation calculated on the basis of differences in formant dispersion between roar portions produced with the larynx still ascended and those produced with maximally retracted larynx. Judged by their morphological traits, the larynx‐retracting muscles of male impala are homologous to those of other larynx‐retracting ruminants. In contrast, the large and massive vocal keels are evolutionary novelties arising by fusion and linear arrangement of the arytenoid cartilage and the canonical vocal fold. These bulky and histologically complex vocal keels produced a low fundamental frequency of 50 Hz. Impala is another ruminant species in which the males are capable of larynx retraction. In addition, male impala vocal folds are spectacularly specialized compared with domestic bovids, allowing the production of impressive, low‐frequency roaring vocalizations as a significant part of their rutting behaviour. Our study expands knowledge on the evolutionary variation of vocal fold morphology in mammals, suggesting that the structure of the mammalian sound source is not always human‐like and should be considered in acoustic analysis and modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its IUCN Red List status as "least concern," relatively few studies have been conducted on serval Leptailurus serval. Within Namibia, serval are detected infrequently, even during prolonged camera trapping surveys, which has been suggested as indicative of low density. Such populations are vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation; therefore, quantifying serval population density and distribution within Namibia is an important first step in establishing conservation needs. We present the first density estimates of serval for Namibia, from Khaudum National Park and the Mudumu North Complex (MNC). Using Bayesian spatial capture–recapture models, density was estimated at 1.28 serval/100 km2 (± 0.23, 0.82–1.56) for Khaudum and 0.63 serval/100 km2 (± 0.51, 0.38–0.90) for the MNC; the lowest serval densities published to date. Photographic records from the two surveys, along with an additional 10 records from MNC captured outside of the survey period and two new records from north‐central Namibia were used to update the Namibian distribution map. This resulted in the highest probability of occurrence along the north‐eastern borders. Such results imply Namibia hosts a low‐density, geographically limited population, potentially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and other environmental impacts, and therefore requires careful management to ensure its persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]