Going out to look for the Dudley Riverbank Female Leopard is like trying to find a ghost. The most beautiful ghost draped in a leopards coat; a ghost who every so often leaves slight clues as to her presence! Being able to find, and then read, these clues is a extraordinary talent. A successful ‘track and find’ of this legendary leopardess requires teamwork, patience, hard work, skill and a fair bit of lady luck.
She lives in the densest spots of Londolozi: a heavily treed area lined with deep drainage lines, most of which are inaccessible to cars. Time must be spent walking around, and through, her favourite trails, inspecting watering holes and game paths. Anticipating and predicting her behaviour. In fact, finding this leopard, requires one to switch your human brain off (for a while) and turn on the deeply hidden animal brain. The other day the ranger/tracker team of Tom and Jerry did just that!
The reward was incredible. Not only did they find this leoaprd in all her glory bit they found her in the midst of playtime with her newest cub. The ghost had unveiled herself and allowed for the most glorious of sightings. A rare privellege for those who saw it. For those of us who didn’t get to, this well filmed footage will have to surfice…for now at least!
Perhaps its time you come to Londolozi and help us look for the beautiful ghost?
Filmed by Londolozi guest Jane Wood on a Canon 5D Mark III
Written by Adam Bannister
Picture taken by Talley Smith
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GORGEOUS! ADORABLE! THANK YOU!!!
Amazing footage Jane! Wish I was there to see them!
This is so wonderful. Such a beautiful cub and also a beautiful mom. I enjoyed it. Thank you.
Great footage Jane, thank you for sharing it with us on the Londolozi blog.
Thank you for amazing film!!!
Wow! unbelievable footage, thanks Jane! looking forward to seeing that one day!
I can just see Tom with that little kid smile on his face.. We got to witness this with the sparta cubs..
thank you adam and team
Wonderful! What a joy to see this… Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for posting Adam. This was a spectacular video. Thanks also to your guest Jane Wood for sharing this. Love it when he runs down the hill to great her…just precious!
Do you know if the cub is a male or female?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!
Wow, what a beautiful sight, melts the heart … you are so lucky to witness these events and live in such a natural environment – and we are privileged that you share it with us, thank you.
THANK YOU JANE, WHAT A FABULOUS VIDEO! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM/HER SOON. THANKS ALSO TO ADAM FOR KEEPING US ALL UPDATED. DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT IS A MALE OR FEMALE YET?
KIND REGARDS, TED.
Such great footage of Mom and cub. I can only imagine how scary it must be for a small cub, all alone, waiting for Mom to get back from her hunt. That cub was sure happy to see Mom. Thanks for sharing.
Love it! What a happy feeling- great music too go along with the footage!
I believe this is the little cub we saw with James in July. Has it been determined if it’s a male or female….a direct descendant of the original Londolozi leopard that was so well documented?