Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania is one of Africa's most spectacular wild places.

Cameras Destroyed in Fires

17 Sep 2008
2:27 AM UTC
By Nakedi

Posted in:
Leopards


Comments:
5 Comments »

In the last three weeks I was away at the AWF Biennial Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya. Before I left I thought it would be prudent to leave cameras in the field so they can do the job while I was away. Upon my return I learned there were runaway fires from Mozambique.

I got even more worried when I saw burnt areas on the map.  Three of my cameras were in those areas. I then went to visit the camera stations to investigate.

I managed to visit only two stations and today I’ll visit the last one. One of the cameras was damaged by the fire, but luckily the memory card was not damaged and this is one of the last leopard pictures we got out of it.

I don’t know if it is possible to fix this camera, but I will give it a try. The number of cameras lost due to non-demonic intrusions is three so far (I don’t know if elephant damage should be included in the category “non-demonic intrusions,” – just a personal feeling!).

As a result this puts a lot of pressure on our already limited budget.

We need 50 cameras for this project. Currently we only have seven. We will need a lot of help in order to reach that number.

A leopard captured by one of the camera traps that got burnt.
A leopard captured by one of the camera traps that got burnt.
Nakedi
Author: Nakedi
Nakedi W. Maputla has just finished a Master’s Degree on the systematics of pouched mice, Saccostomus campestris from southern Africa with the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria. From February 2005 to September 2007 he worked at TuksSport Combined School in Pretoria where he was a Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, Technology and Physiology educator. He joined African Wildlife Foundation as a leopard researcher at the beginning of October 2007.

5 Responses to “Cameras Destroyed in Fires”

  1. medupi shabangu Says:
    September 17th, 2008 at 2:33 am

    This is very informative. Have you looked at the possibility of engaging Corporate sponsors in S.A?

  2. Kimitei Kenneth Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 am

    I think this is a very exiting project. Leaving camera traps to work for you while attending other issues? fantastic, beautiful, wonderful…… Despite the challenge of fire outbreaks which is common in rich habitats that host wildlife, keep it up Nakedi. Hope to read more on you blog the soonest.

  3. Nakedi Says:
    October 7th, 2008 at 4:13 am

    Thank you Kimitei.

  4. Kitty Brigham Says:
    November 8th, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Love the last picture taken by burnt camera :-)
    As well your elephant humor.
    So marvelous to be in touch with you, Nakedi!

    Kitty

  5. Nakedi Says:
    November 10th, 2008 at 7:57 am

    Thank you for your comment Kitty,
    I am delighted to finally be in touch with you.

    I would like to thank you for all the support that you and your sons have given to different programs in Africa including this leopard project.

    Thanks again,
    Nakedi

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