The Kaxane or Kashane male leopard is one we don’t usually see. His territory falls to the West of our property, and with other big males like the Camp Pan and Marthly males forming a territorial wall in Londolozi, he is not often seen sticking his neck out on this side.
Recently however, in the western grasslands, ranger Mark Nisbet and tracker Like Gumede were slowly making their way through the chilly early morning mist when a dark shape emerged out of the gloom ahead of them, confidently striding down the road. The male leopard usually encountered in those areas is the Makhotini male, yet the leopard they saw before him was certainly not him. After some consultation they realised that it was infact the Kashane male they had found, moving around on the very fringes of his territory.
The beautiful eyes of the Kashanae male make him instantly recognisable. Photo by Mike Sutherland
He was born to the Kapen female in 2005, and upon independence moved south the lower Sabi Sand.
This male is certainly one of the most striking I have ever seen; his almost aquamarine eyes make him unmistakeable.
It may be pure chance that he was in the area, but the fact that he was scent-marking repeatedly as he moved through the grasslands may suggest that he is looking to push East. The Kashane male has clashed with the Makhotini male before, but it remains to be seen if he will become a more frequent visitor to Londolozi.
A beautiful misty morning reveals the Kashane male on Londolozi. Photo by Vladimir Tisma
Video footage from Marriane Wolf – Londolozi guest
Photographs by Vladmir Tisma (Londolozi guest) and Mike Sutherland
Written by James Tyrrell
Kashane male leopard well know in idube safari gr.
@ James T … Kashane seems a big one?
He is magnificent!
Kashane is huge, ofcourse because he is the son of HLARULINI MALE leopard. His father was proberly one of the biggest male leopard that roamed the Sabi Sands.
How would the rangers compare the size of Kashane with Camp Pan, and Tsyon? ( Marthly) and others?
Camp Pan and Shorty are both enormous male leopards, however I think the Kashane male would be very comparable in size owing to his age and genetics.
Do you think he is pushing East out of Singita to try find other potential mates or extending his territory as there are no other leopards in Singita?
Camp Pan is definitely bigger than Kashane.
Oh he is a magnificent male Leopard, with those eyes staring at you, you sure know who’s the boss!!! Lovely pics guys. Thanks
It was a privilege to see and follow this fabulous leopard. He clearly knew what he was doing he was walking a boundary and leaving his scent. Absolutely gorgeous animal!
Awesome post Mike! Keep them coming! Beautiful images