One of the Mother City’s most scenic routes and picture-perfect spots is undeniably Chapman’s Peak Drive. Renowned for its breathtaking views where sky, land and sea are the stars of the show, it’s truly a sight to behold.
But every now and then, the vistas are not the only sight to behold. Sometimes, Cape Town’s favourite regal ‘rooikats’ can be spotted along the route, flaunting their long tufted ears and creamy underbellies.
A female and her two adorable kittens have once again been spotted on the wall along the iconic Chapman’s Peak Drive, this time by lucky onlooker Isla Phitides.
This is not the first time the trio has been spotted at Chapman’s Peak, according to the Urban Caracal Project, which suspects the little family has a den somewhere in the vicinity.
The organisation said in a Facebook post that they have received multiple reports of a female with kittens on the wall along the Drive.
‘Let’s keep this caracal family safe by making sure to drive carefully along this route,’ they urged.
The Urban Caracal Project aims to protect biodiversity through research and conservation. It operates through the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild) at the University of Cape Town.
Ways to support the project:
Please immediately report all road kill caracals in the Cape Town area (i.e. the Peninsula and outer suburbs) to Dr Gabriella Leighton at [email protected] or call 079 837 8814.
The project relies exclusively on donations and grant support that has funded everything from GPS-collars and caracal tracking efforts, genetic analyses, supplies, pesticide and disease testing, health assessments, and many more!
Report caracal sightings here.
Its current project expenses are focused on supporting the work of PhD student Gabriella Leighton as she wraps up her urban caracal project on disease testing at the University of Cape Town.
Any amount helps and 100% of donations go to the project:
Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Beneficiary Reference: iCWild Urban Caracal
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Branch name: Rondebosch
Branch code: 025009
Branch address: Belmont Road, Rondebosch 7700, Cape Town
Account number: 071522387
Account type: Current
Swift address: SBZAZAJJ
To assist with the prompt identification and processing of donations, please include an abbreviated donor name and donation purpose in the bank reference field.
Once a deposit or electronic payment has been made, please notify the project by email at [email protected] and [email protected], explaining what the donation is for.
