Involved Leopards

Camp Pan 4:3 Male

Camp Pan 4:3 Male

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Gowrie 2:2 Male

Gowrie 2:2 Male

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Marthly 3:2 Male

Marthly 3:2 Male

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Piva 3:2 Male

Piva 3:2 Male

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Ximpalapala 4:4 Female

Ximpalapala 4:4 Female

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Vomba 3:2 Female

Vomba 3:2 Female

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Tugwaan 5:4 Male

Tugwaan 5:4 Male

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Tu-Tones 3:2 Male

Tu-Tones 3:2 Male

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Nottens 5:5 Female

Nottens 5:5 Female

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Robson's 4:4 Male

Robson's 4:4 Male

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Tutlwa 4:3 Female

Tutlwa 4:3 Female

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About the Author

James Tyrrell

Alumni

James had hardly touched a camera when he came to Londolozi, but his writing skills that complemented his Honours degree in Zoology meant that he was quickly snapped up by the Londolozi blog team. An environment rich in photographers helped him develop the ...

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36 Comments

on Photographic Journal: Remembering Leopards Now Gone

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This bring back so many memories. Camp Pan was always my favourite. I still remember when I’ve heard that Tu Tones was killed by baboons. I actually shed a few tears. We saw Vomba in Varty car park making her way around the stores coming back from a drive in the evening. Everytime we stand in Varty car park we remember her. They were all special leopards.

Master Tracker

Cracking photos

Thanks Ian!

Beautiful photos and interesting history of the magnificent leopards of Londolozi. Thanks for sharing, James!

You’re welcome Darlene!

Seems Londolozi is leopards’ paradise and you’ve been fortunate to observe most of the main residents. The quest for territory is never ending and there are tragic outcomes, all part of the animal cycle. Your photography records are stellar and I look forward to future updates.

Hi Denise,
It will be interesting to see which leopards are in a “memory lane” post in 5 years time…

So many memories! Gowrie’s golden eyes, Tu Tones’ pink nose, the warthog kill we witnessed by the Marthly male, Vomba’s golden coat, and regal Camp Pan – and so many others! So lucky to have shared time with them all!

Shocking but – Whether it’s with our dogs or “our” leopards (I know they are not ours) I think the short lives of these magnificent creatures teach us how to live life fully, with no regrets, no rueing the transitoriness of life, but just enjoying the miracle of the brief time we have here. After all, if we live 100 years, and divide that but the 13.8 billion years of the current age of the universe, we get the same answer mathematically that we would if we divided the brief life span of the leopard or the dog into 13.8 billion – essentially zero. But we know it’s not zero, because it’s real, it’s special and it’s to be treasured and savored.
Best regards,
Michael

Oops! I meant “by” 13.8 billion years, not “but” 13.8 billion years. Not enough coffee yet!

Hi Michael,
Thanks for the comments (I fully relate to the typos from not enough coffee!).
Best regards

Wonderful article James-brings back so many wonderful memories and I have been fortunate to see and photograph almost all of these leopards .Londolozi is indeed such a special place for leopards.We had a wonderful sighting of the Ximpalapala female a few years ago and did get some great shots highlighting her beautiful eyes .

Hi Tony,

Lucky one! I think I can count the number of photographic sightings i had of her on the fingers of one hand. Once she was treed by a pack of wild dogs which I think after three years was the only photo I had managed to get of her!

Rich history along with incredible images! The circle of life continues…..

Wow great post with so many incredible leopards of old. Quite a trip down memory lane

Great photos and history! Was recently there and got to see Tailess before she was injured, any news on her? Also witnessed the Birmingham Boyz Brawl, how are they getting along after their skirmish? Thanks and really enjoy your posts!

Hi Frank,
Sadly she passed away of her wounds; her body was discovered yesterday.
We’ll be running a farewell post in the next day or two.
Best regards

James it is so sad. An end of an era.

HI James,
I am an avid reader of this blog and love the updates. thanks for this leopard post… very interesting indeed.
Very Sad to hear about the tailless lioness! she was one of my favourites… will be looking out for this farewell post in the next few days.
any news on the newest visitors from the North Thamba and Hosana?
Regards

HI Riandi,
I am on leave at the moment but I did hear a young male leopard had been seen in the north of Londolozi, which I can only assume will be one of them…

Great summary, thank you so much! Love the photo of the 3. Very unusual!!

Hi Laura.
Thanks. It just happened to be a very lucky moment as they walked past!

I so enjoyed reading about these beautiful animals which are my favourite of the big cats. What I found heartening and especially interesting was that although some died of their wounds or disappeared a surprising number of them lived long lives. Thank you for the wonderful stories and photos, just so engaging.

Hi Cynthia,
Yes a few of them lives to a ripe old age. The Camp Pan and Tugwaan males and the Nottens female in particular…
Best

I have always admired the leopard as the most beautiful and admirable of the big cats. The photo journal on Londolozi has reaffirmed that opinion. I realize that as part of Nature’s grand scheme, this cat sometimes meets an untimely end. Be that as it may, this realization does not in any way lessen my respect for this magnificent animal. Thank you, for your excellent blog of which I hope to see more in the near future.

Hi Stan,
Thanks for your comments. Leopard are indeed remarable creatures!
Hope to hear more from you in future.
Best Regards

4:4 Robson and Mashaba young female for mr

Thanks for the memories! They all have contributed so much to our experiences and to the environment of Londolozi!

Senior Digital Ranger

Nothing quite like the Sabi Sands.. While there are places with leopards, the Sabi Sands knows the history of their leopards and I think that has helped create a large following.. I didn’t see these leopards of Londolozi in person, but I feel like I have through the blogs and photos shared by this fabulous group of guides/photographers.. Thank you for sharing your little corner of paradise with all of us.

Wow, so many leopards have come and gone, it really puts everything into perspective. Didn’t the Bicyle Crossing Males territory extend onto Mala Mala?

My favorite Leopard was the Maxabene Female. I was under her spell and just entranced with her. So much so, I wrote a blog post about my love affair with her. https://dreamcatcherimages.net/2016/08/01/the-leopard-of-londolozi/

I also took photographs of the Bicycle Crossing Male way back in 2005 when he was an upcoming young powerful male that soon would make his mark. With his recent passing last summer, all the living leopard connections I made during my Sept 2005 visit came to end.

Sad, yet that’s circle of life. I need to come back and make new leopard connections.

Hi James – Mike and I have seen 90% of the leopards you have talked of and have photos in a log book (you may remember the log book trying to identify some leopards!). All stunning and thank you for the memories.

Hi Nicki,
Of course I remember the book! 🙂
You must have a few leopards from this post in there…?

Hi james – Yes pretty much all apart from 1 or 2! Looking forward to seeing more on our return. We were wondering about the Tamboti cub we saw last Dec given the news about the Tamboti female?

One word Brilliant

Thanks John!

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