Involved Leopards

Camp Pan 4:3 Male

Camp Pan 4:3 Male

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24 Comments

on The Camp Pan Male – Hunter or Scavenger?

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Jens
Guest

I totally agree with your conclution: that he found out that it is easy for him to scare off other predators and steal their kill than to hunt for himself. He is like all of us. If you can get a free meal why not eat it.

You say that you can recognise him on his 4:3 spot pattern. I have never heard this before. Can you please explain what this means?

Jens, we often refer to spot patterns as this is one of the means by which we identify the different leopards. When we talk about a spot pattern, we mean the number of spots on the leopard’s cheek, above the top row of whiskers, ie. the upper most row of spots on his cheek. If we say 4:3, we mean 4 spots on the right and 3 on the left. If you look at the portrait shots, you should be able to see this. Most leopards will have a unique spot combination, however this is not always the case. I hope that helps a bit.

Jens, you can also find out more about the spot patterns and Leopards of Londolozi through this link: http://www.londolozi.com/leopards/ – Let us know if you would like any further information. rich

Fabulous James! Thanks for that

OK, first, I love these animals. I am crazy nuts about them all and I do tend to…’anthropomorphize’ them (THANKS Tally for reintroducing the word into my vocabulary) always….
It IS difficult to try to understand what thought processes go through an animal’s brain ANYTIME, because we aren’t on their level and haven’t been forever…but James is correct, Camp Pan is BOTH…he’s a cat…cats are opportunistic, always have been, always will be. Still love them, but your average household Tom is no different than Camp Pan…he’ll scarf the tuna you left out for dinner as eagerly as he’ll hunt a mouse! Love them all! Better to watch Camp Pan though!

While we are anthropomorphising, I wonder how the Camp Pan male would feel about being compared to an average household tom? Thanks for the comment Geri.

Im sure he’d probably regard it with a smirk on his face and a dismissive flick of his tail 🙂

Patsy Weingart
Guest

I so hope that we get the chance to see this bad boy when we visit this summer. Of all of the animals he is at the top of my list.

We would love to show him to you Patsy, he is still one of my favorite leopards! Just yesterday afternoon I was sitting with him thinking about what an amazing specimen he is. We’ll do our best.

Jenny
Guest

What a great story and photographs, James. I agree with you completely: Why? Because he can!
He is magnificent – that thick solid neck and boxy square face have me in awe every time. (I believe he is Shangwa’s brother – and she’s also particularly large for a female.)

Thanks Jenny. Were Camp Pan and Shangwa from the same litter? Shangwa is definitely the largest female leopard I have ever seen, so it would make sense. The Tavangumi female (Camp Pan and Shangwa’s mother) wasn’t particularly large, but I suppose these genes come from the Wallingford male (their father).

I am also interested to hear more about the relation between Camp Pan and Shangwa. If anyone has any information on this, please let us know by replying to this comment thread. rich

Shardool Kulkarni
Guest

Shangwa is Tavangumi’s cub from a previous litter (November 1998). She and Camp Pan are half-siblings – Camp Pan’s father is the Wallingford Male while Shangwa’s father is reportedly Mbombi according to some websites. Got this info from Idube game reserve’s website and from a Flickr Group.

Alistair Swartz
Guest

tend to agree with you crooksie. watched a leopard try and catch a warthog. she got it wrong and the tusk when through into her stomach. we saw her a few times after that and her conition was worsening. eventually we never saw her again. one can only think that her injury got the better of her. if you know you are dominant, why take the risk when you dont have to.

Thanks for the loyal support Ali! I’m sure you’re right. A similar thing happened to a leopard early last year in the western Sabi Sand. A mother warthog attacked the Mambiri 2:2 female after she killed a piglet. She ended up having front paw that was completely torn and she ultimately died.

Gavin
Guest

My favourite, massive presence. He received that scar under his right eye by the kinky tail male off Elmons Kraal.

Thanks Gavin, that’s great to know. I will slip that information into our leopard profiles.

Sheena
Guest

Qui audet adipiscitur – he who dares wins – and if we were to anthropomorphize more about his behaviour – who doesn’t know a chap who relies on others to get his supper – from time to time ? !!!

Alex
Guest

Adaptable like water.
Cam pan preserves a considerable size, despite his age, so it is easier to intimidate smaller leopards instead of hunting.
I’d be curious to know if it is still estimated at close to 90 kilograms Cam pan, because it can vary its mass over the years?

Francis
Guest

Hi, James. Is he as big as the late Emsagwen male leopard? Thanks.

Hi Francis, when last I saw the Emsagwen male he was looking enormous, however I personally think that Camp Pan is a bigger male leopard.

alice
Guest

He is baddy, but I love him.

Rosie
Guest

I think they all do it given the opportunity, Mufufunyane was well known for stealing other’s kills, especially poor old Safari’s !!

simply inescapable! simply marvelous! simply indescribable! should be there, in order to understand the emotion! I want to come back in South Africa more than anything else in the world.

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