My camera trapping survey is now into its fourth week and the variety of species captured so far is quite impressive. Sixteen different species of mammal have been photographed, including nine different carnivore species. This might seem what you would expect in an African bush environment, but this is on a cattle farm and so competition for resources is high.One of the more suprising photographs has been of my target species, the caracal, in broad daylight. Daytime sightings of caracal are occasionally reported in protected areas, but in areas of high human activity they are rare.
Other interesting captures have been of an African wild cat (Felis lybica) and a striped pole cat (Ictonyx striatus). I have also got plenty of images of that nocturnal enemy of car suspension, the aardvark (Orycteropus afer).
The cameras have so far stood up well to the torrential rain we have been having for the past few weeks, the spoor survey however is now badly behind schedule. Tracking cannot be done when there is rain during the evening and night as the spoor is obliterated from the sandy substrate. On many occasions in the past few weeks I have got up at 4.45 in the morning to pick up my tracker and driven the 20 or 30 kms to the farm on which my transect for that day is located, only to find that it has rained and we cannot work. Getting up that early is irksome even when it results in the collection of data, when it is for nothing it becomes a dreaded chore.
The farmers need the rain though and the landscape is now looking very green and lush. It is remarkable how quickly this arid environment can transform from dry, sandy scrub to rich grazing land.
