Conservation, like wine, doesn’t happen overnight. Each project is built on thousands of hours of effort that often goes without much gratitude. But after a few months, one can look back and see all of the progress made.
The Tale of Two Leopards, nearly 10 months after the launch, has made some massive strides I am thrilled to be a humble messenger of. Below is an excerpt from the official update from Cape Leopard Trust, with a link to the full story.
With great admiration I will be bringing back the To2L Wines Promotion, consisting of 6 bottles of Sauv Blanc/Semillon and 6 bottles of Merlot/Shiraz for just R1500 (FREE delivery). Simply email [email protected] to reserve – quantities are limited.
Our collaborative Tale of Two Leopards project, in partnership with Endangered Wildlife Trust and various local Overberg conservation organisations, is going from strength to strength. We recently reported on the completion of our large-scale camera survey and the story gained a lot of traction, with the wonderful camera trap images being the stars of the show. Have a read HERE if you have not yet seen it!
Apart from scientific research, the project is also comprised of conservation and community outreach components. One aspect that we are very proud of, is the creation of a special ‘Tale of Two Leopards’ interpretive signboard. These large outdoor signboards were designed as an education tool to share information and encourage local appreciation of the two focal species – leopards and Western Leopard Toads (WLTs). The board contains background information and quick facts about leopards and WLTs, compares their similarities, emphasises their ecological importance, describes both species’ field signs and finally, outlines what people can do to help.
Thanks to Conservation Allies and Whitley Fund for Nature, CLT and EWT were able to sponsor ten signboards for the region, and eight of these boards were delivered and erected over the past couple of months. The final two boards will be used in an exciting upcoming phase of the project – watch this space! Spots where you can view the signboard and learn more about the two leopards of the Overberg include the start of the Fynbos Trail in Grootbos Nature Reserve; Fernkloof Nature Reserve; Phillipskop Mountain Reserve; Farm 215; Willem Appel Dam birdhide in Stanford; Nuwejaars Wetlands SMA and Agulhas National Park.
A big thanks also to Erinn Straughan from Otter & Aardvark for the fantastic design and to Kohler Signs for the high-quality final product.
Tale of Two Leopards Wine
Another collaboration that deserves special mention again, is the fantastic Two Leopards wine project by local wine brand, LOST BOY Wines for the Wild. Trevor DeRuisé, owner and winemaker of the LOST BOY label, shares the passion and vision of landscape conservation in the Overberg and has crafted two unique, limited-edition blends to support the cause. These were complemented by local botanical artist, Chris Lochner, who sketched a leopard and a Western leopard toad for the bottle labels. The wines were released at an intimate event in Hermanus in November 2021, and a donation is made to the Tale of Two Leopards project for every bottle of wine sold. Only very limited stock remain, so order yours online today!
