Learning more about the shy Black-footed cat

Worth Wild Africa
16 hours ago
2 min read

WWA Appeal raises $2500 for night vision binoculars

The miershooptier ("anthill tiger") is the Afrikaans name for the Black-foooted cat (Felis nigripes), Africa’s smallest wild cat and the world's deadliest, with a 60% hunting success rate. Endemic to arid regions of South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, this tiny, nocturnal feline weighing between no more than 2.5 kg is known for its fierce, aggressive nature when cornered.

The Black-footed Cat Project is researching this rare and endangered species, working to raise awareness of the little predator amongst farmers in South Africa. Their study is led by Gerrie Camacho along with Tommie Steyn and Dr. Laura Tensen of the Lydenburg Research Station, South Africa.

The project has the following objectives:

Conduct range estimation studies across the Mpumalanga landscape of BFC distribution.
Estimate population densities and determine home range sizes.
Monitor long-term population trends.
Identify threats to the species and determine measures to mitigate threats.
Assess BFC genetic diversity in Mpumalanga.
Determine BFC required habitat characteristics.

One of the major challenges to the study is simply being able to operate at night. If a BFC is spotted, just keeping a firm eye on it is almost impossible if it moves into vegetation, let alone trying to capture it with a net to fit a radio collar. High quality night-vision thermal binoculars would be extremely useful first in locating a BFC via body heat signature and then allowing a stationary spotter to keep an eye on it while simultaneously directing the team precisely via walkie talkies to capture and hold the cat for the attending vet to sedate and fit a radio collar.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THIS LITTLE PREDATOR

Strictly nocturnal, solitary and shy.
Found in the Northern Cape (especially the Karoo), Addo Elephant National Park, and at the Cat Conservation Trust in Cradock.
Inhabit dry, open savanna, grasslands, and arid areas of South Africa.
Use abandoned termite mounds or burrows (like aardvark holes) for shelter during the day, earning them the "anthill tiger" name.
Extremely high metabolism, hunting and consuming up to 14 small rodents, birds and insects per night.
Only the soles of their feet are black, which helps protect them against hot sand.
Conservation status is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, poaching, and poisoning

WWA is delighted to announce that thanks to the generosity of Brian Braitsch and the Feline Conservation Foundation in the USA, who covered 100% of the cost, the project received the thermal imaging night vision binoculars that they needed.

The team has already started to map the range of the elusive little Felis nigripes in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.