Involved Leopards

Tutlwa 4:3 Female

Tutlwa 4:3 Female

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Nhlanguleni 3:2 Female

Nhlanguleni 3:2 Female

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Nkoveni 2:2 Female

Nkoveni 2:2 Female

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About the Author

Chris Taylor

Ranger

Chris was born and raised in the Kwa-Zulu/Natal Midlands where his family inspired his early passion for the natural world. Exploring Southern Africa as he grew up, this passion was allowed to develop and his curiosity to expand. After high school, Chris spent ...

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on The Newest Independent Leopards of Londolozi

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Dear Chris,

thank you for that good news about the leopards.Great shot of Finfoot.
Its really a perfect name Plaque Rock female- I saw both in that situation in July 2018, last year we were looking for them.
Looking forward for July 2020.

We saw all 3 of these gorgeous girls in early August 2019. Finfoot and Nkuwa we’re feeding with their mama and Flat Rock in an Nyala in the river bed. Plaque Rock was alone in a tree with her carcass and then chased off by Kunyuma! I really hope that all 3 females continue to thrive and eventually dominate their areas!

The Nkuwa and Finfoot females are two of my favorite Londolozi leopards and two of the prettiest in the Sabi Sands, IMO. So happy that they and the Plaque Rock Female have names and will continue the Leopards of Londolozi story. Chris, will there be a map of the respective females’ (these three) territories on the Leopards of Londolozi website for future reference?

Also curious if the females’ scat could be collected for DNA testing? I believe there is some study going on that tests scat for paternity. Would be interesting if Flat Rock was indeed the father or if another male managed to sire the cubs.

Thank you Chris, it’s wonderful to see these young females flourishing. I saw all these as cubs on my trip late Sep ’18, so it’s particularly interesting for me. The 2 Nhlanguleni cubs were with their mother, taking it in turns to feed off a kill. Alfie had no sooner said “she’ll need to hoist that kill soon” when a large hyena rushed in and stole it! I’ve just dug out my photos so I can see which cub is which. Later that week we were treated to an incredible sighting when Nkoveni and her cub played in a fallen tree – Alfie called it 1 of his best sightings ever! I was fortunate enough to see her again last September when she was newly independent. It’s such a privilege to able to follow their history. Question for you – is Tortoise Pan still on Londolozi, haven’t heard anything about him for a while.

Senior Digital Ranger

I think this post may add to my own Londolozi story. My second visit to Londolozi was in May 2018, and after a couple days it became apparent that a lot of leopard cub action had been among the goings on. Our guide/tracker knew both that we were interested in such a rare sighting, and that we had heard rumblings around camp about such activity. As a result we spent good portions of a few drives (w/o success, but not w/o trying) checking what was described as “common” leopard denning sites in areas along the Sand a River that sound a lot like areas you described in this post. One East of camp could be described as a weathered drainage at the top of the south shore of the Sand River which now sounds like it may have been used at the time by the Nkoveni female. The other two were East of camp along the north side of the Sand River. One was a hundred meters or so north of shore of the river in a clump of boulders. The other was another weathered drainage forming a short tributary to the Sand River (a search interrupted by a surprise appearance of the Anderson Male in the river bed itself). Obvious speculation after reading this message is that these were denning sites used at time by the Nhlanguleni female who now appears to have a new litter. While I’m sure we inquired about these mother leoapard names at the time, the lack of a sighting lead their names to fade with time in memory. So in this context, aside from the normal pleasure I get reading this blog, today’s post had that extra selfishly attractive quality of hitting close to home. Thank you for the write up.

Chris, I hope to see all theses leopards when we are there in 2020 – we are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary.

So wonderful to see three successful female leopards moving out on their own. Thanks for sharing, Chris!

We have enjoyed leopard “history” since out first visit in 2013. An interesting historical perspective is in the book, “The Leopards of Londolozi” by Lez Hes first published in 1991. (Film of choice: Kodachrome 64–how things have changed!)

Lex Hes

Senior Digital Ranger

Thanks Chris – we look forward to following the progress of this new generation of beautiful female Leopards.

Congratulations to these beautiful leopards, long life to them all.

Fascinating to learn how your leopards are named. Out of curiosity, if one of these Londolozi named leopards wanders into MM or Singita, are they given a name representing a territory there? Also, is the Senagal Bush male Nhlanguleni’s brother? I read the Tutlwa female raised two cubs to adulthood, Nhlanguleni being one….. thanks for the update. As an aside, wouldn’t it be interesting if the Tortoise Pan male was to mate with one of the newly independent females? That would be a story!!

Very nicely done Chris!!!

Digital Tracker

Thank you Chris! Always a wonderful thing when you name new leopards who have made it to be territorial.

Beautiful pictures of beautiful cats! Is the male leopard called Hosana ever in Londolozi?

o wow. Thanx for sharing this info!!

Thanks Chris, great job!

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