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Ntomi 3:3 Male

Ntomi 3:3 Male

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Ximungwe 5:3 Female

Ximungwe 5:3 Female

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About the Author

Pete Thorpe

Alumni Ranger

Pete was a Field Guide for Londolozi for 4 years, contributing to the blog as a fantastic writer as well as photographer. Right from his very first bush trip at the age of four, Pete was always enthralled by this environment. Having grown ...

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24 Comments

on The Antics Of The Ximungwe Young Male Leopard

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Wonderful creature with great temperament he surely is a character

thank you, some unbelievable photo’s. Looking forward to see his development, how long before he goes out on his own, gets a name and any ideas on which territory he will occupy

Pete, I loved all the photos🤗

Senior Digital Ranger

Wonderful and also amusing article – superb photos as well!

Incredibly entertaining antics!

what a brilliant young cub to watch him grow up and face the world, wonderful. thank you

What wonderful animals and particularly the young ones who remind me of the sorts of high kinks my 2 boys got up to, including climbing and falling out of trees. Can’t wait for the next installment. thank you! Victoria

It is so hilarious to watch him ‘grow up’! Love it! Thanks for sharing!

I have really loved watching his antics and growth as well… him stocking the bush the other day was hilarious!

Young leopards are just so much fun to watch…..young males especially! The curiosity combined with the developing physical and psychological skills make for a lot of entertaining antics and behaviors……and to be able to spend time with one cat consistently is even more special!

Thanks for the update on this almost independent leopard. I saw him and his sister as little fluff balls, playing in their rocky den whilst mum was off hunting. Even back then in late November 2018, he was the inquisitive one. Let’s just hope he realizes his limitations and doesn’t go after a Buffalo bull…..!

Great story Pete! We loved the video of the young male and the tree – a classic!

Pete, you are so lucky to be able to watch these cubs as they develop and move into independence. I was fortunate enough to see him last September with his mother. One of my favourite photos (which I put in my blog a few months ago) was of him standing up in a tree next to his mother’s kill. It’s not a good photo technically, but he looks for all the world as if he is posing with it (and yes, I know I’m being anthropomorphic, but I smile every time I see it!)

What a beautiful account the maturation of the young Ximungwe male. I clicked the link and read the story of the death of his brother by the Tortoise Pan male. Very raw indeed! All the best to this guy as he approaches full independence. I know you’ll keep us updated!

Best wishes to this young animal reaching the most beautiful age for a leopard. I wish he could stay like that for ever…

I love these photos and this playful young leopard

Nice blog Pete. It certainly must be a relief for you all to witness the cubs growing from babies to full grown adults and heading off on their own. It is always sad when the cubs are killed by a male leopard, but guess such is life in the bush. Thanks for sharing with us. Be well and stay safe to everyone at Londolozi.

Senior Digital Ranger

Hey Pete! .. I can so relate and chuckle at your story for today! Maybe you might be able to relate, but,.. I adopted a 2 year old kitty in February, (that I swear nearly looked like a baby leopard upon its Intake picture). The poor thing had been abandoned, and then adopted and surrendered twice prior to me adopting it! The kitty had literally lived in a cage for 10 months at a shelter.
From the moment the kitty was delivered to me, she was right at home. The funny thing was, like you mentioned about the Leopard’s play antics and developing instincts for its future independence, .. my new kitty has had to learn all kinds things about the modern civilized world! (to include domesticated discipline, which she has not taken to on a full scale. Especially the word “NO!”) It has been a HOOT watching the kitty be in wonder about the sound of a heater furnace and what it does. More so, it was hysterical to watch her when she learned about a dishwasher! All sloshing and banging noises just left her so perplexed! She is just SO CURIOUS! What makes me wonder most though about this kitty, who turned 3 yrs old on April 6th, is, I ted to seriously wonder if she was somehow bred beyond what is known, because the kitty ca LITERALLY do ZERO to 60 in a heart beat just like a Cheetah! She’s also got abnormally large paws and “unique markings” for a domesticated cat! It also leaves me perplexed that she won’t purr or growl, yet she will do a quiet “cub like” Hiss if she doesn’t want to picked up or held. She even SWATS like a growing cub! Likewise, the kitty’s got the “hunting and climbing skills” of a growing Leopard cub!
All said, it is so enjoyable, engaging and edifying to read your blogs upon your ventures. It leaves my mind all inclusive to the ways of felines and their worldly origins.

It is lovely to watch his antics on the Instagram stories. He is like a playful, inquisitive kitten.

Looking forward to seeing what he gets up to in the future!

Hi Pete. Even watching the bit we see of this young male Leopard on pictures and videos is very funny to watch. To sit and watch him in real life must be SO VERY entertaining and hilarious! Thank you for this – one of my favourite ways of enjoying myself! Wendy M

Senior Digital Ranger

I really love watching this leopard’s antics, he is very entertaining. I hope we get to see a lot more 🙂 some really great photos on this blog

Great photos Peter, loved the footage of this cub crashing through the trees and trying to hunt birds 😂💕

Senior Digital Ranger

To be able to watch the growth, trials and tribulations of such an amazing animal is truly such a gift. I love that you are able to share it with all of us… Thank you

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