Predators vs. Farmers: Ceva Wildlife Research Fund finance a groundbreaking solution

Committed to contributing to the promotion of positive interactions between humans, their activities and wildlife, the Ceva Wildlife Research Fund, a one-of-a-kind endowment fund, is supporting a project that aims to solve tensions between wildlife and rural livestock in Botswana, Africa.

In light of World Wildlife Day taking place on March 3rd, the Ceva Wildlife Research Fund - an endowment fund created by Ceva Animal Health, the 5th largest animal health company in the world – is proud to present its contribution to the “BioBoundary project”. 

Led by Dr. Peter Apps of Wild Entrust Africa’s Botswana Predator Conservation program, this pioneering initiative seeks to address a major tension between Botswana's rural communities and wildlife: predators attacking livestock. Through fieldwork and advanced laboratory techniques, chemical signals from predator urine are identified and characterized, leading to key molecules like 3-mercapto-3-methylbutanol (3M3MB), which are then synthesized to deter predators, such as leopards, from preying on livestock.

The Ceva Wildlife Research Fund is supporting Peter Apps and his team in the second phase of their project by providing financial support and expertise, enabling the deployment of GPS collars on monitored leopards. This phase will take the study of the effectiveness of 3M3MB on leopards to the next level.

These collars will track the leopards’ movements across their territories, offering insights into their travel patterns between ranches and reactions to 3M3MB devices deployed in strategic locations. Additionally, a camera trapping system is strategically placed to capture footage of leopards interacting with the odour of 3M3MB and record their behavioural responses.

Marc Prikazsky, president of Ceva Wildlife Research Fund, says: “The Ceva Wildlife Research Fund is excited to fund and support such a pivotal project. Pilot studies in Botswana have shown encouraging results using collars emitting 3M3MB, highlighting the potential for wider applications. This project joins the ranks of our many successful projects all aimed at protecting wildlife and biodiversity and highlights the fund's commitment to enabling projects that safeguard biodiversity, reduce zoonotic risks or facilitate interactions between wildlife, farm animals and humans.”