Week 8: Managing Sustainable Populations

Purpose & Objectives

Students will gain an understanding of the role played by research and ongoing monitoring in managing a sustainable leopard population. Students will also gain an awareness of the complexities involved in research projects and how they are designed, initiated, funded, and how the information is communicated.

Classroom activity

By looking at the class display students should be able to appreciate the many aspects of leopard ecology that need to be considered when trying to conserve these animals.

• As a class make a list of the key areas that would need investigating in order to design a sustainable management plan for a leopard population.
• Then make a list of the equipment that would be needed.
• Use this equipment list to create a budget for your project.
• Students should be encouraged to have an initial guess at the expected cost of their research project.

Independent activity

To reinforce the importance research plays, students should interview a researcher of their choice. Asking them a list of key questions about the motivation, design, initiation, and funding of their research.