UCT Conservation Biology

Hi everyone 👋

We’re the 2025 cohort of the MSc Conservation Biology programme at UCT!

Join us on our adventures in the field and get some insights into what we will be studying. Swipe along to meet us 👉

We are all looking forward to the year ahead!🐘🌿🦅🐢🦋

Hot, sunburnt, sweaty, flourishing! 🇿🇦

Hi everyone! 👋 We’re the new cohort of MSc Conservation Biology students at the FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology 🦅

We’ve had a blast so far - and we can’t wait to see what the year has in store! Watch this space over the next few days, as we’ll be introducing ourselves! 🖤

Also, just to say a quick thanks to the incredible for taking us on our first freshwater field trip, and the inspiring .is.ceci for taking the time to chat about her work to save the Clanwilliam Sandfish!

The 2020 CB masters has been quite the journey. Few of us were able to make it in person to present our theses to the department and new CB class, while the others pre-recorded theirs and zoomed in live! It was incredible to see how all the projects turned out! While it’s bittersweet that CB has now come to an end for our group, we wish the next class the best! ✨

Mining is one of the largest and most economically important industries throughout the Zambezian miombo biome. Despite the rapid growth of the industry in this biome, it's impact on surrounding avian communities is poorly studied.

In her project, Rowan Hickman ( , .wildlife ) will be using data she collected on avian species richness and diversity at increasing distances from an active surface mine in Northwestern Zambia. This study will improve our understanding of how surface mining impacts surrounding miombo woodland bird communities, and what traits explain why some species are more affected by these impacts. A protected area has been established around the mine, and it's effectiveness to mitigate or offset the impacts will also be explored.

Rowan is being supervised by Dr Gabriel Jamie ( ) and Dr Claire Spottiswoode.

1. Rowan in Miombo woodland
2. The mine processing plant, tiny in comparison to the size of the mine pit.
3-6. A few of the birds recorded during fieldwork. Meyer's Parrot, Golden-breasted Bunting, Bateleur and Spotted Flycatcher.

Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) on the Cape Peninsula are geographically isolated from other baboon populations in the Western Cape and have been forced into close contact with humans following the development of low-lying land that overlaps with preferred foraging areas. Understanding the attitudes of people towards wildlife and the methods used for managing wildlife in urban areas is a key component of stakeholder involvement in the development of acceptable mitigation measures for human-baboon interactions.

In her project, Debbie () will use a community survey to investigate attitudes and level of support for building a baboon-proof electric fence as a long-term solution to address human-baboon interactions in the coastal suburb of Kommetjie, Cape Town. This study will help to shed light on whether improved understanding of management interventions changes attitudes towards conservation measures.

1. Debbie in the field in Namibia where she worked collecting behavioural data on chacma baboons. Photo credit: Katie Stone.
2. Cape Peninsula baboon foraging on fynbos. Photo credit: Esme Beamish.
3. Urban baboons foraging on human rubbish waste. Photo credit: Joselyn Mormile.
4. Baboon having a nap during the scorching Namibian midday heat. Photo credit: Katie Stone.

The Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), aka the Black Eagle, is the largest eagle in the Aquila genus across its range. They are associated with rocky mountainous habitat and nest on cliff ledges. The distribution of this species follows that of the Hyrax species which in most areas, make up 49-98% of their prey choice. Merlyn's () research is on the Influence of rainfall on the Verreaux's Eagle and its prey species in Matobo Zimbabwe. The Matobo population is famously known for being the longest going citizen science-led eagle breeding survey, ongoing since 1964 to present. It is also the densest population in the species range and the most prey specific, preying on two species of Hyrax more than 90% of the time.

Rainfall is a very crucial factor in this predator-prey system as it drives primary productivity therefore affecting the prey availability and the ability for the eagles to breed and successfully fledge young. It can also have detrimental direct effects on eggs or chicks in the nest causing unexpected failures for the eagles who breed during the dry winter. Merlyn seeks to understand the relationship of rainfall with this system and what the future holds for this iconic population in the face of a changing climate.

1. Merlyn releasing a Martial eagle in previous fieldwork
2 & 3. The majestic Verreaux's Eagle
4. An eagle in flight with fresh sprouts to line it's nest
5. The Matobo landscape is rocky filled with granite boulders and kopjes
6. Rock Hyrax in a family group huddled together for warmth
7. A fledgeling on the nest ledge (📷 by Dave Dell)

The common raven (Corvus corax) is an intelligent, generalist scavenger and omnivore that has thrived in transformed landscapes by capitalising on predictable and abundant human food resources. From bird feeders to garbage dumps, these resources are supporting the growth and spread of raven populations across the global north. Increasing numbers raises both ecological and conservation concerns, such as in cases where ravens predate on other threatened species and come into conflict with farmers.

In her project, Veera () will be analysing existing GPS movement data from a population of ravens in Austria to better understand how they are using human food resources across time and space. Individuals in this population exploit resources in distinct ways, such as in the time they spend at resources, the ones they prefer and the number of foraging sites they visit. This study will provide a better understanding of the extent to which individuals themselves, their traits, the food resources and other environmental conditions affect movement patterns. Learning how ravens behave and adapt to resources will better inform how to manage them.

Veera is supervised by Dr Petra Sumasgutner (.raptors) & Prof. Dr. Thomas Bugnyar from the Konrad Lorenz Research Centre (.lorenz.research.center), University of Vienna, and Dr Susan Cunningham from the FitzPatrick Institute (), UCT.

1. Veera in the field (not Austria but one day she’ll have a photo there!)
2. GPS backpack on a raven
3-4. Ravens foraging and competing for food at a wild boar enclosure
Photo credits: The Corvid Lab

Spotted hyaenas are arguably one of Africa’s most successful large carnivores. They have a wide distribution across the continent and are found in a variety of habitats. The IUCN lists spotted hyaenas as least concern but acknowledges that there have been regional declines in some areas. For her project, Hannah () will be using bycatch data from camera trap surveys that were run by Panthera () to monitor leopards to estimate the population densities of spotted hyaenas in KwaZulu-Natal reserves. This will assist with future status assessments of spotted hyaenas, as well as providing robust population density estimates that can be used to make effective conservation and management decisions for the species. Hannah is supervised by Prof. Justin O’Riain from the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, and Dr Gareth Mann from Panthera. 🐾
1) Hannah on a voluntary placement, helping train scent detection dogs to locate riverine rabbits.
2-5) Camera trap images of spotted hyaenas – Image credits: Panthera.

Bushmeat poaching can be a significant threat to biodiversity, causing wildlife numbers to decrease and further isolating populations. A worryingly high number of illegal wire-snares have been set for this purpose in the Boland region of South Africa. Reliable data on wire-snare poaching in South Africa is lacking, especially on privately-owned land.

Tamar Kendon () is investigating which farms face higher snaring pressure and why, where these snares are being placed in the landscape, and the factors that influence their distribution. Using Cape Leopard Trust () data, she is identifying areas at high risk for snaring and the drivers of snaring on farmland bordering protected areas. This is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies and minimising the threats to biodiversity. 🐾

Tamar is being supervised by Prof. Justin O’Riain and Dr Vincent Naude, both from the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (), and Anita Wilkinson from the Cape Leopard Trust.🐆

1. Tamar doing previous fieldwork.
2-3. Wire snares found in the Boland
4. Leopard injured by snare (Warning: Graphic)

Last week the CB class went on a wonderful fieldtrip to learn more about freshwater conservation 🐟.
Thank you & !
Photo creds: @ Bain'S Kloof, Western Cape, South Africa

The 2020 CB class went on a field trip to see the biodiversity in the fynbos 🌻 & visited Betty's Bay's penguin colony 🐧 (Hannah was definitely there 😉) @ Kogelberg Nature Reserve

Post- hand-in drinks with the 2019/20 CB class (missing a few important members!)
Wish us luck in the real world (and please hire us!!) 😁🧑🏽‍🎓