There always comes a time in life when we have to say goodbye. It is a process that you can never get used to and it tends to be something that lingers around you each day, in your thoughts and in your experiences. This is not goodbye just yet but there is certainly concern that it may well be in the near future. The Dudley Riverbank Female looks to be on her last legs, no pun intended. She is fragile, weak and malnourished. It was rumoured that she had passed recently and it raised much sadness over a great community that follow the life of these leopards with intent. However, she is still very much alive and was seen on more than four occasions in the past week at Londolozi. However, seeing her has unfortunately educated us as Rangers and Trackers as well as guests, to the fact that she is living out her last few days with us in this beautiful land.
The Dudley Riverbank female was another successful cub of the 3:4 female that reached old age, eventually passing away at just over 17 years
Are we spending our last few moments with the beautiful cat? Photographed by Mike Sutherland
The Dudley Riverbank female has been a part of the Londolozi legacy for the past 16 years. Born in 1998 to the famous 3:4 female, and what is more incredible is that she is connected to the bloodline of the original Mother Leopard. The Dudley Riverbank female is the last remaining offspring of the 3:4 female, the other two deceased offspring were the Nottens female and the Newington male. Currently there are only two offspring of the Dudley Riverbank female that move on and off Londolozi. They are the very seldom seen Dudley Riverbank 5:5 male, who is territorial in the North Eastern sections of Marthly and the most recent addition is the Dudley Riverbank young female, the last successful cub of this amazing leopard. She had not been seen for many months and then appeared a few weeks ago on Londolozi, to everyones delight.
Born to the Tugwaan female in August 1992, this leopard would redefine the relationship between man and wild cat.
To give a little perspective, the Dudley Riverbank female got her name from the area in which she was territorial, Dudley Riverbank. It is a portion in the South Eastern regions of Londolozi, into Dudley. A fair drive from the lodge into some dense areas, with few roads and little human interference. This area is prime leopard habitat, scattered with small drainage lines and dry riverbeds, like the Tugwaan, who has seen more leopards than one can ever imagine. This female made this area her home for many years and defended it with every beat of her heart. She fought tirelessly to hold onto such a prime territory and keep her offspring and herself safe. This is an admirable life lived by this very important female, but her current antics are keeping everyone guessing.
Have you ever seen a leopard reach an age were she is no longer fit enough, strong enough or physically able to look after her own territory and defend it against other younger female? This is part of the life of a leopard. Have you ever seen a leopard becoming nomadic and wandering vast distances from its lost territory, sneaking in and out of other leopards territories, like a ghost? Under the radar at all times, surviving on the bare minimum but just trying to stay alive? This is another sad reality in the life of an old leopard. The part that fascinates me the most about this entire thing is how the Dudley Riverbank female has gone through this process, she has lost her territory and is now nomadic, but she has returned to her place of birth to spend her last remaining days. She has come to an area that she knew well as a young cub, an adolescent and as an independent leopard that was once chased away from this land to go and establish and fend for herself. Probably a good 14 years down the line and this female has decided that she wants to return to her place of birth to die. Have you ever seen this behaviour before? I find it fascinating, heartbreaking but almost romantic in some sense.
The problem that the Dudley Riverbank female faces is that, this land that she knows so well, in her memory and in her past, is now no longer the safe haven she once knew. It is no longer occupied by her grandmother, her mother or any related female. It no longer has the protection of the same male she knew in those times. Territories have shifted, generations have come and gone and she is now in an area that is a danger to her. She is moving in and out of areas that are occupied by extremely successful, young strong leopards, who are currently raising offspring, have recently left cubs to independence, or have been mating to raise future generations. The leopards in comment are the Tamboti female and the Mashaba female, and the Dudley Riverbank female has had encounters with both of them in the past month.
The first was with the Tamboti female in the central eastern portion of Londolozi, where the Tamboti female attacked and injured the Dudley Riverbank female in a serious altercation that, we believe, lead to the demise of the female in a short space of time. The other was more recent and is still in play with the Mashaba female, who is territorial around the camps and the most central and important portion of Londolozi. This is the area in which the Dudley Riverbank female was born all those years ago and is know faced with this dilemma, where it almost seems as if she just wants to come and rest in peace in her place of birth, but is being put under immense pressure by a leopard who is currently raising young cubs. It is a recipe for disaster.
Some interesting encounters. The Dudley Riverbank female peeks over her shoulder at the Mashaba female. Photographed by: Mike Sutherland
Danger is lurking in the air. Photographed by: Mike Sutherland
From what we can assume and from what we have witnessed, the Dudley Riverbank female is entering her last few days, or weeks in this beautiful place. She has returned to her place of birth to perish and wants to do it calmly and quietly, and she has given so many the opportunity to share these last few moments. I can say that I have really cherished my little time spent with this female, most notably the last two sightings. When I drove off, I honestly thought I would never see her again.
The Dudley Riverbank female in all her beauty.
So sad. Saw her last year in September catching a duiker. An amazing experience to cherish. May she spend her last days in peace
Mike, another well written- but sad- update. I hope DRB ‘s magnificent life ends on her terms. It would be wonderful if her beautiful young daughter kept territory on Londolozi
Hi Mike.
Thanks so much for the update.
Makes me feel sad, as I have known Dudley Riverbank since her and her brother
were born. Spent so many happy, privileged hours watching her play as a
cub, in the huge Mahogany trees on Dudley Riverbank with her mom and her
brother. My best leopard memories of all time in my ten years at
Londoz. But don’t write her off so quickly. As you know, She comes
from a lineage of long lived females who were real fighters! I saw Three Four
recover from some serious injuries as she got older when everyone else was
saying she would never make it. Having said that I must say that Three Four had
the benefit of two daughters (Nottens and Dudley Riverbank) in close
proximity to her in her final days and lived out her last year or two in what
had become their territories. (hard fought for by her and her mother (Tugwaan)
before her) So she was fairly safe from territorial clashes with other
leopards. As you point out Dudley Riverbank does not have this luxury. Do you
know where her daughter holds territory. Does she have a territory closeby? It
would be interesting to see if she moves into her daughters territory. Perhaps
that is where she has been when you thought she was gone???? Would love to know
the answers. Leopards are so enigmatic and secretive, even ones as habituated
as the amazing Londolozi leopards. I love Dudley Riverbank so much. She is
like my leopard sister as I always called her mom my Leopard Mother. She taught
me more about life than anyone or anything I know! Please keep us updated and I
hope to all my heart that you are wrong about Dudley Riverbank and that she has
a couple more years of leopard life in her! XXXX
this is so sad and as a human being , i do feel so bad for her . and this is NOT the way i want to have during my last days on earth nor do i wish on any living creatures unless they are so cruel and evil killers of man and beasts and convicted child molesters. wishing her the very best for whatever time this grand old lady has on earth.
SHE REMINDS ME OF A DOCUMENTARY ON THE LEOPARD , INDIAN LEOPARD RAISED BY A MAN . SO SHE GREW UP IN HIS COMPOUND WHICH WAS AT THE EDGE OF A NATURAL RESERVE . SHE DID ACCOMPANIED HIM WHENEVER HE WENT TO THE WILD. APPARENTLY SHE WAS ALLOWED TO ROAM FREELY BECAUSE WHEN SHE BECAME ADULT AND MATURE, SHE GAVE BIRD TO 2 CUBS.
SHE NURSED THEM FOR A WHILE UNTIL ONE DAY SHE PICKED UP ONE CUB AND LEFT THE COMPOUND. THE MAN DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER AFTER HER RETURN AND WAS ABOUT TO PICK UP HER LAST CUB . WITH A CAMERA , THIS MAN FILMED THE CAT’S MOVEMENT. WITH HER BABY CUB IN HER MOUTH, SHE WENT ON A TOUR IN THE COMPOUND TO VISIT ALL HER FAVORITE PLACES LIKE THE KITCHEN WHEN SHE WAS A CUB . THE FILM SHOWED HER LEAP FROM A BALCONY TO ANOTHER WITH A CUB IN HER MOUTH. SHE TOOK A TOUR WITH THE CUB.
AFTERWARD WITH HER CUB, SHE WAITED BY THE RIVER WHICH SEPERATED THE COMPOUND AND THE RESERVE. THE REASON WAS SHE AND THIS MAN ALWAYS WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO ROW THE BOAT TO CROSS TO THE RESERVE. THE BOAT ROWING PERSON APPEARED AND TOOK THE MOTHER WITH CUB TO THE RESERVE.
THE MAN WAS MAKING COMMENTS THE WHOLE TIME . AND IT WAS HIS LEOPARD LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS BIDDING EVERYONE IN THE COMPOUND AND HER BELOVED PLACES GOOD BYE FOR THE LAST TIME.
AND HE WAS RIGHT ! HE DID TRACK HER AND THE CUB DOWN. BUT AFTER A MAJOR RAIN, HE LOST HER TRACK AND THE DEN WHICH NATURALLY THE LEOPARDESS HAD MOVED TO A HIGHER GROUND.
IN SHORT, I HAVE LEARNED HIGHLY DEVELOPED ANIMALS LIKE LEOPARD OR ANY BIG OR SMALL CAT HAVE NOT ONLY FEELINGS THEY ALSO HAVE SOME KIND OF HIGHER EMOTIONS OR LONGING FOR THE PLACES THEY CALL HOME ! I SAW A LIONESS’S ENJOYING A SUNSET UNTIL WE, THE TOURISTS SHATTERED HER ENJOYMENT OF PEACE AND THE SCENERY.
THERE IS MUCH MORE IN THEIR BRAINS THAN WE HATE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THIS WAY WE CAN BE CARELESS AND THOUGHTLESS AND GUILT FREE WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO BE FAIR OR HELPFUL
Thank you for the update on the Dudley female.. She was a lovely lady. I remember when Safari was older (she lived to 18) she would hang out around the Djuma area where her daughter Karula still has territory.. She disappeared one day and that was then end of her era..Shortly after her prefferd mate Mufufanyane also passed.. Two wonderful leopards who let a lasting legacy, as did the Dudley female..
May he last journey be a peaceful one.
Mike,
Thanks for a great week, it was a privilege to see this remarkable leopard in the sunset of her sunset. Your article is a wonderful tribute to a beautiful creature.