Camp Pan Male
This leopard had a charisma. A rock n roll swagger of confidence and a steely gaze of experience. Forked tongue and bloodied chin, this battle scarred fighter had lived hard and fast. Vicious encounters with the opposing males and bouts of promiscuity with a plethora of receptive females. A hulking body that slips past the back of the herd only to kill with with artistic exhibitionism.
To him, life must be a performance. The secretive reputation is a precedent that seems to ring untrue. He is bold and brash. He lays where he must, eats what he wants and mates with what he believes is rightfully his. He surveys his territory, unafraid of rogues foolish enough to chance a step into his land of bountiful flesh and sinew. He parades his various poses, celebrating the attention he assumes he deserves. He is an unashamed rockstar.
This leopard must be content with life… To be fair though…this is merely a human presumption aligned with Hollywood values. If this leopard were bound by the constraints of these desires, he would be the epitome of the artificial dream. Successful, coveted, powerful and instantly gratified.
But instead, he is just a leopard. One who has successfully managed to attain mastery of the environment in which he exists. That then, is perhaps where his contentment lies…not in the artificial poverty of luxury, but rather the contentment that is natural wealth.
Written and Filmed by: Rich Laburn
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
My favourite male leopard by a mile, never forget watching him fight kinky tail male of Mbabala donga hence the scars under his eyes , and hunting the large buffalo herd for 2 days.
Gav, it would be great if you could fill us in on what happened that day. Especially with regard to his scars and forked tongue.
Another amazing post Rich! Superbly well written! Photography and editing are both of a very high quality! “contentment…not in the artificial poverty of luxury…” – quality!
Hopefully I’ll still get the chance to see this brute!
Very well done!
Great Footage, he has grown into a beast. Looks like his territory streches into the manyaleti?
The footage was taken earlier this week starting from Finfoot crossing in the Sand River and then moving north into the Manyeleti. He eventually settled on the rocks close to Doc’s River Road.
He is an incredibly strong male, the size of his neck indicates this alone.
Shoo gets close to the vehicles, and I love that yawn.
What an awesome specimen Camp Pan Male is.
Great footage and well written and described Rich!
He is definitely a Big Brute!