Eve Hills

I am interested in the behavioural ecology and conservation of wildcats, with a particular focus on the African leopard. I am keen to understand the underlying processes driving co-occurrence among apex-predators within protected areas. In particular, how resilient leopards are to the effects of intra-guild competition. For my Master’s research project, I used camera trapping to assess the influence of habitat, prey and sympatric predators on the occurrence of leopards in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. I have also explored the use of Citizen Science as a tool to monitor leopard populations. My PhD research is investigating the availability of preferred leopard prey and habitat in the Meru Conservation Area, Kenya. I am also identifying hotspots of human-leopard conflict in the buffer zones and considering the potential for conflict resolution.