One of the Associated Charities of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic, The Cape Leopard Trust, is an active predator conservation working group in the Cape region. Associated Charities are specific to the Absa Cape Epic, changing annually, with the proviso that they fall within the areas that the route follows during the event.
The Cape Leopard Trust focuses on wildlife and conservation through finding solutions to human-wildlife conflict and inspiring interest in the environment through interactive and dynamic environmental education programmes.
Stage 7 of the race takes riders from the serene Oak Valley, in Elgin, to the picturesque Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West. This region is home to Cape Leopard. The riders will be travelling through the Boland area, where the Groenlandberg region is home territory of ‘Popeye’, a dominant adult male, whose range extends through the Hottents– Holland Nature Reserve. The female leopard ‘Olive’ has also been seen at a number of locations through the Groenlandberg area, and Olive has been seen looking for her mate through the specific region.
Hansgrohe, official shower fitting sponsor of the Absa Cape Epic, is also a longtime supporter of The Cape Leopard Trust. Says The Cape Leopard Trust’s Helen Turnball (Communications & Project Support): “We feel privileged that Hansgrohe South Africa is a global, environmentally aware company, who has chosen to align itself with both the Absa Cape Epic and The Cape Leopard Trust, spearheaded by their MD Anthony Mederer. Hansgrohe has generously donated R30 000 towards our environmental education project, which offers schools and children the opportunity to attend a free-of-charge camp in the Cederberg to learn about nature and the vital eco system services it provides.”
Every year The Cape Leopard Trust offers to fully sponsor 16 camps for schools from disadvantaged areas. This is to ensure that young people from poorer communities are also exposed to their natural heritage, and are educated to be good environmental citizens. The education project has quite a positive impact in terms of sustainability and development.
Says Mederer: “The Cape Leopard Trust has been one of my choices to support in my personal capacity for some time already. With the Cape Leopard being the only large mammal left in the wild and endangered in the Western Cape, it was an easy choice to support when Hansgrohe discovered that it’s one of the Associated Charities of the Absa Cape Epic. Our rider teams agree that as the Cape gives them a rich experience during the event, they wish to give back and spread awareness.”
Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser win NTT Masters category in fine style
