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We report on the first population found in Tanzania of the Vulnerable African golden cat Caracal aurata, extending its documented range c. 200 km to the south and south-east. This is one of the least-known and truly forest-dependent felines in Africa, ranging across the Guinea–Congolian forest block. We recorded the new population in Minziro Nature Forest Reserve, north-west Tanzania, during a 3-month survey in 2018. We deployed 70 camera traps on a regular grid and obtained 33 detection events of the golden cat at 26% of sites, with a minimum of 10 individuals across 257 km2. We estimated occupancy and detection probability and modelled these in relation to the distance of sampling sites to the forest edge, which coincides with both the Reserve boundary and proximity to human settlements surrounding the Reserve. Mean estimated occupancy was 0.41 ± SE 0.12 (mean detectability = 0.13 ± SE 0.05), with occupancy increasing significantly with distance from the forest edge. Detectability did not vary significantly with distance from the forest edge, but was higher for camera models that had a shorter trigger time. Our findings add to the scant data available for this species. It appears threatened by human activity, which we recorded both outside and within the Reserve, and the presence of the species indicates Minziro Forest is an important site for its conservation.

No Abstract

The African golden cat Caracal aurata is endemic to tropical Africa. It is one of the world's least-studied felids and is considered rare in most of its geographic range. The status of the African golden cat in the wild has never been rigorously assessed, but the species is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation, and by unsustainable hunting. We describe the African golden cat and review its taxonomy, distribution, ecology, behaviour, threats and conservation status. The information presented here is based on the literature and on new data from the first two intensive field studies on the species (underway in Gabon and Uganda). The golden cat is phenotypically variable. Within the two main colour morphs, golden/reddish-brown and grey, there is wide variation and intergradation. Both of these morphs occur throughout the species' range. Melanistic and chocolate-brown morphs also occur but are uncommon. Recent genetic analysis indicates that the golden cat is closely related to the caracal Caracal caracal, and it has, therefore, been changed from the genus Profelis to Caracal. The golden cat is predominantly terrestrial and cathemeral. Its diet consists mainly of rodents and small ungulates. Field studies in Gabon and Uganda have established that golden cats can be locally common. They are prone to capture by wire snares, however, and are absent in forests hunted at commercial scales. Species-focused camera trap surveys are effective for collecting distribution, abundance, population structure, ecological and behavioural data on golden cats.

The catchment of the Congo River basin contains an extensive forest–savanna mosaic, which once harbored significant populations of lions (Panthera leo), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). The mosaic’s northern part, stretching across the Republic of Congo and southern Gabon, is today geographically isolated. Uncontrolled hunting has led to a gradual decrease in its ungulate populations, and today African wild dogs are considered extinct within the Congo Basin. Lions and spotted hyenas suffered an extreme collapse of their respective former ranges, and in the Republic of Congo both species are believed to survive exclusively in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park (OKNP). We surveyed all extensive savanna areas within this park, to determine the current status of savanna carnivores. We conducted 460 km of track searches on foot, and operated 25 remote camera traps across the survey area over 424 trap-days. We detected no sign of lion presence in the park. Spotted hyena tracks were widespread, and our camera traps recorded 154 hyena photographs, representing 46 different individuals. We also recorded leopard (Panthera pardus), serval (Leptailurus serval), and African golden cat (Caracal aurata) within the survey area. Although lions are likely extinct in the Republic of Congo and neighboring Gabon, our results highlight the importance of OKNP for the regional conservation of spotted hyenas and smaller savanna carnivores.

Camera traps are a key tool in ecological studies, and are increasingly being used to understand entire communities. However, robust inferences continue to be hampered by low detection of rare and elusive species. Attractants can be used to increase detection rates, but may also alter behaviour, and little research has evaluated short-term, localized response to the presence of attractants. We conducted three camera trap surveys in Kibale National Park, Uganda, using food baits and scent lures ("attractants") at each camera station to entice small carnivores to pass in front of camera stations. To examine the interrelationship between scavenging and response to attractants, we also placed camera traps at five food refuse pits. We modelled the effect of attractant and duration of trap placement on the detection probability of small carnivores and selected African golden cat Caracal aurata prey items. We examine transient site response of each species, by comparing our observed likelihood of detection in each 24 h period from 1-7 d following refreshing of attractants to randomly generated capture histories. African civet Civettictis civetta, rusty-spotted genet Genetta maculata, African palm civet Nandinia binotata, and marsh mongoose Atilax paludinosus detection probabilities were highest and Weyns's red duiker Cephalophus wenysi detection probability was lowest immediately after attractants were placed. Within 24 h after attractant was placed, rusty-spotted genet and African palm civet were more likely to be detected and African golden cat, red duiker, and blue duiker Philantomba monticola were less likely to be detected. Our results suggest that attractants can increase detection of small-bodied species and include some arboreal species in terrestrial camera trap sampling. However, attractants may also alter short-term visitation rates of some species, with potentially cascading effects on others. Community level and intraguild interaction studies should control for the potentially confounding effects of attractants on spatial activity patterns.

The African golden cat Caracal aurata is Africa’s least known felid. This paper describes how C. aurata can be most readily identified in the field and reviews what is known about this species’ distribution and conservation status in Kenya. Forty-six records for C. aurata from 38 sites were compiled. The Mau Forest is the only site in Kenya from which specimens of C. aurata have been obtained and remain available. Most of the records are for the four largest highland forests (Mount Elgon, Mau Forest, Aberdares Range, Mount Kenya). Other sites include Olorgesailie, Shompole Swamp, Pelewa Hills, Kaja, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Maunga Hills, and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. The distribution of C. aurata in Kenya remains poorly known. There can be little doubt that C. aurata is one of Kenya’s rarest mammals and that its population is now highly fragmented. An open-access database (‘GoldenCatBase’) has been established to help bring more attention to C.aurata in Kenya and to aid in the compilation of information on its distribution and conservation status.

We placed camera traps for a month at sixty locations in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to determine the species composition and distribution of medium-to-large terrestrial vertebrates. A total of 15912 images were recorded from 1800 camera trap days. These provided a total of 625 and 338 camera events when filtered by hour and day, respectively. Twenty mammal species were recorded from 594 and 314 camera events by hour and day, respectively. Four bird species were recorded from 31 and 24 camera events by hour and day, respectively. The African golden cat Profelis aurata Temminck was recorded from 27 and nineteen camera events by hour and day, respectively. The black-fronted duiker Cephalophus nigrifrons Gray was most frequently photographed with 179 and 65 camera events by hour and day, respectively. Analyses reveal two species possessed a significantly interior-biased distribution. One species showed an edge-biased pattern. Five species were detected to have significantly biased altitudinal distributions with higher elevations. Distance to park edge and elevation can significantly influence species distribution. The selective use of the park limits the area that each species utilizes, with implications for maximum population sizes and viability. Our observations provide a baseline for long-term terrestrial vertebrate monitoring in Bwindi. Resume Nous avons place des pieges photographiques a 60 endroits du Parc National de la Foret Impenetrable de Bwindi pendant un mois pour determiner la composition des especes et la distribution des vertebres terrestres de taille moyenne a grande. Au total, 15.912 photos ont ete enregistrees pour 1 800 jours-pieges photos. Cela represente en tout respectivement 625 evenements photographies, exprimes en heures-pieges, et 338 en jours-pieges. Vingt especes de mammiferes ont ete enregistrees, soit 594 evenements exprimes en heures-pieges et 314 en jours-pieges. Quatre especes d'oiseaux ont ete captees lors de 31 evenements photos exprimes en heures-pieges et 24 par jour-piege, respectivement. Le chat dore africain Profelis aurata Temminck fut enregistre au cours de 27 evenements heure-piege pour un total de 19 jours-pieges. Le cephalophe a front noir Cephalophus nigrifrons Gray fut le plus photographie, avec 179 et 65 evenements respectivement. Les analyses revelent que deux especes presentaient une distribution significativement biaisee vers l'interieur du parc, et une autre une distribution biaisee vers les limites exterieures. Cinq especes ont montre des distributions altitudinales biaisees en fonction de l'elevation. La frequentation selective du parc limite la superficie que chaque espece parcourt, ce qui a des implications sur la taille maximale et la viabilite des populations. Nos observations constituent une base de reference pour le suivi a long terme des vertebres terrestres de Bwindi.

The use of camera traps for wildlife research and monitoring is increasing and this is yielding significant observations at an accelerating pace. Yet many potentially valuable observations are overlooked, misinterpreted or withheld. Using our first-ever images of a wild African golden cat (Caracal aurata) catching prey, we consider practical challenges and opportunities for more effective image management systems. In particular we highlight the benefits of online image archives and assessments.