If one looks back over the history of the Nanga female, one could say she’s just been unlucky when it comes to raising cubs.
Yes, the odds of any cubs surviving aren’t high, and very few females have good track records, but the Nanga female in particular it seems has been cursed with a run of misfortune. At least one and most likely two litters of hers were killed by the now-deceased Tutlwa female. Most recorded infanticide in leopards sees males as the culprits, and female infanticide is rare. Yet successive litters of the Nanga female fell victim to her western rival. Exactly why this was, no one can say for sure, but it seems that the females were denning very close to each other at the time (in one instance at least), so the Tutlwa female may simply have seen the constant presence of another unrelated leopard as a threat, and removed the whole reason that the Nanga female was anchored to the area in the first place; her cubs.
An enigmatic female not often encountered, this leopard lives to the north of the Sand River.
The Nanga female was born to the Nyelethi 4:4 female in 2009 as part of a litter of three.
Whatever the case, it was in 2013 that the Nanga female was first recorded as giving birth, yet only 2018 that she first managed to get one of her offspring through to independence.
The Makomsava female when still very much dependent and still shy around vehicles. Photograph by Chris Kane-Berman
In late 2016 she gave birth to two cubs, that were first found at a rocky den on the banks of the Manyelethi River. One disappeared fairly early on, and the second, a female, remained skittish for a good few months before finally relaxing when a Land Rover was present.
The cub spent a large portion of its early life being stashed in or near the Manyelethi, which meanders through the heart of the Nanga female’s territory, and abounds with good hiding places for a small leopard.
Playtime, with the Nanga female leaping over the young Makomsava female when she was still a cub. Photograph by James Tyrrell
The only times the Nanga female looked like being reproductively successful before this, she pushed her cub(s) into independence too early. Her first litter produced a male cub that she forced out at only a year old – if that – when she gave birth to another litter. He hung around the northern reaches of Londolozi for a few months but then was never seen again. Ironically the litter she birthed that forced him out was killed within a few weeks, so that male could even have rejoined his mother and still have been dependent for a few more months.
The latest cub (that survived) spent a couple of months extra with its mother, and this may have made all the difference.
Blood on her nose indicative of a recent kill, the Makomsava female is groomed by her mother while she was still independent. Photograph by Rob Jeffery
We’ve talked before about leopard cubs reaching the age of twelve months and having their survival chances skyrocket, though a combination of factors, and the Nanga female’s surviving cub was still seen with her mother regularly until around 17 months of age (give or take a month). This meant that upon independence, she was necessarily bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced, and generally far more able to take care of herself.
With her mother, high in one of the Jackalberry trees that line the Manyelethi riverbed.
As one might expect, she spent her first few months of independence in some of the areas with which she was most familiar; Marthly Pools, Southern Cross Koppies, and the Tamboti groves near Nyelethi Pan.
One place where we experienced a spate of sightings of her is one of the most beautiful areas on Londolozi; the Leadwood Forest on the western bank of the Manyelethi. The lovely road that wends its way through those ancient trees is known as Makomsava, which means “Mother Earth”, and to see a leopard there is to see one in as picturesque a setting as one could possibly wish.
An elephant grazes amongst the Makomsava leadwoods. Photograph by David Dampier
In Londolozi’s history, we couldn’t come across a record of any leopard being named after this most magic of areas, so decided to confer the name on this young female, even before she was properly territorial. Realistically, the area is the boundary between the territories of the Nanga and Ingrid Dam females, yet we do still find the Makomsava female here on occasion. With female leopards often recorded as ceding sections of their territory to their female offspring, there is no reason not to hope that the Nanga female won’t do the same, and there’s the chance that that the newly named Makomsava female might take permanent ownership of the area from which she gets her name.
Photograph by David Dampier.
The only surviving cub of the Nanga female, currently territorial north of Marthly.
It is always good news when a cub makes it to independence and can be named. The leadwood forest is truly beautiful and it is a fitting name for this young female.
A wonderful example of one of the factors that makes Londolozi stand out , the individual knowledge of the rangers and trackers as well as the imbedded collective knowledge
She’s a beauty! We’re looking forward to many stories of her to come….
What a brilliant photograph of the Nanga female leaping over her daughter. It’s heartening to learn that she has finally raised one cub to independence after losing so many. Wishing a bright future for Makomsava!!
She’s absolutely beautiful! Her color is much lighter than many of the leopards! Just a gorgeous girl!!! Much luck to her on her independence and territory!!!
Hi Carol,
Good observation. Her mother the Nanga female is also quite a pale leopard, so it’s clearly something that runs in the lineage…
Holding thumbs for this beautiful young leopard.
James, thanks for this wonderful history and the lovely photographs. Wishing the Makomsava Female a long life in this beautiful place.
The images of baby leopard cubs with their mother are as sweet as any would hope for. Whether playing, grooming or teaching, hearts warm with images like the ones you posted this week. I have been wondering just who has the honor of naming a newly independent leopard? An individual or perhaps a group decision?
So exciting, especially given the fairly high rate of death with young leopards. Hope we will see her in January !!
I’m looking forward to seeing Makomsava! We saw her in April/May 2017 as a very little cub after following her mother who was calling her as we closely observed. May all be right in your world, Makomsava!
Makomsava is a beauty like her mother. I hope she makes herself at home and continues to grace your visitors with her beauty.
Nice blog James and let us hope that she hangs around Londolozi. A good news story. She is a beautiful cat.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Excellent Jamo. Guy and I had an awesome time with her in the Leadwood Forest one afternoon.
What a wonderful idea for her name and so exciting that she’s named. We saw her in that very spot.
Lucky enough to see her as a cute and rather shy cub and were able to see her again on our last visit as she was beginning to establish her independent territory. Simply lovely and very special to watch a leopard grow and develop and hoping for a great future for her!