Scent marking strategies of a solitary carnivore: boundary and road scent marking in the leopard

Rafiq, K., Jordan, N.R., Meloro, C., et al.; Animal Behaviour; 2020 

Scent communication is widespread in the animal kingdom; yet little is known of leopard scent marking behaviours.  We investigate leopard scent marking across home ranges and road networks in Botswana. 

Spatio-temporal factors impacting encounter occurrences between leopards and African predators

Rafiq, K., Jordan, N.R., Wilson, A.M., ​et al.; Journal of Zoology; 2019 

Meetings between predators can be difficult to document and study.  We used custom GPS radio-collars on leopards and other large African predators to explore some of the factors leading to encounters. 

Tourist photographs as a scalable framework for wildlife monitoring within protected areas 

Rafiq, K., Bryce, C., Miller, D.A.W., et al.; Current Biology; 2019 

Protected areas are a cornerstone of conservation; yet many lack the resources for basic monitoring.  We show that in tourism areas, tourist photographs could be used for low-cost wildlife monitoring. 

OpenDropOff: An open‐source, low‐cost drop‐off unit for animal‐borne devices

Rafiq, K., Appleby, R., Edgar J.P., et al.; Methods in Ecol. and Evol.; 2019 

Animal-Borne sensors are being increasingly used in wildlife research and conservation.  We introduce and provide the design files for a drop-off device for remotely removing sensors from animals. 

Do mammals have a world wide web of interspecific signals?

Apps, P.A., Rafiq, K., McNutt, J.W.; Chemical Signals in Vertebrates; 2019 

There is a growing body of evidence that carnivores use scent marks to communicate with other species.  We investigate and discuss between species communication using examples from northern Botswana.

Movement patterns and athletic performance of leopards in the Okavango Delta

Hubel, T.Y., Golabek., K.A., Rafiq, K., et al.; Proc. R. Soc. B.; 2018 

Despite being the most widespread of all big cats, relatively little was known of leopard movement and athletic performance.  We investigate the movement and athleticism of leopards in northern Botswana.  

Camera trap records of groups of ten and eleven honey badgers Mellivora capensis in northern Botswana,

Apps, P.A., Rafiq, K., McNutt, J.W.; Small Carnivore Conservation; 2018

Honey badgers are wide ranging mustelids that are typically solitary and sometimes seen in pairs or trios.  We present observations of groups of > ten honey badgers travelling together in northern Botswana.