It appears as if the Camp Pan Male Leopard has bounced back to his old majestic self. Over the last couple of months he had seemingly been deteriorating after his territory was rudely infiltrated by the much younger Dudley Riverbank 5:5 Male. Camp Pan is a massive leopard and takes one’s breath away when you get the privilege of seeing him.
The King of Londolozi in his day; an enormous male whose offspring still inhabit the reserve.
I have been monitoring his movements quite closely over the last 2 weeks and he seems to have reoccupied the area that he had previously moved out of. The only really obvious change is in his appearance…his fur is becoming lighter and lighter. His ageing though seems to be having little effect on his hunting skills. Just a couple of days ago he was seen killing and then hoisting an impala into a large Jackalberry in the Maxabeni drainage line. He fed on this until his belly was satiated.
The next day he was observed, still fat and well fed, chasing the Vomba Young Female off of an Impala kill. He climbed this tree with remarkable ease (as can be seen in the pictures below). He then fed through the day and provided a spectacular sight for us as we watched him finish it off then descend the tree in the dying light.
Camp Pan Male climbing tree up to impala hoist – Stoff Kane-Berman
Camp Pan Male climbing tree up to impala hoist – Stoff Kane-Berman
Camp Pan Male climbing tree up to impala hoist – Stoff Kane-Berman
I must admit that personally I had thought Camp Pan’s days were numbered…the last few days have showed a delightful resurgance of dare I say it…the Good Old Days!
Silhouetted against a magnificent evening sky, Camp Pan feeds on his second meal in as many days – Adam Bannister
The magnificence of Camp Pan – Adam Bannister
Written by Adam Bannister
Filmed by Adam Bannister
Photographed by Adam Bannister and Stoff Kane-Berman
I think he is magnificent. So good to see him on form – the King is back!
Indeed he is looking magnificent..
He is indeed a very HANDSOME male. We had the pleasure of tracking another male in late June (I think it was the Dudley Riverbank male) with John Holley and Richard Siwela….an AMAZING experience! I will always remember the rasping call and the odor of ‘popcorn’ and forever associate it with male leopards, Londolozi and South Africa!!
We were privileged be on the afternoon drive to witness this magnificent animal enjoying the impala on 14 Oct. We came upon him lying close by, breathing heavily, full belly and taking it easy. As if on queue, he climbed into the tree and put on a show for all of us. When we returned on 15 Oct. he was close by relaxing. I’ve got some of these same photos. Being there to witness the reality is so much more spectacular!