Well, they’re not.
In appearance, anatomy, habitat, size… literally nothing about them is similar apart from the fact that they are both organic life forms.
BUT…when their place of residence gets too small to house them, they have to move.
I’m referring specifically to leopard cubs here, as the adults don’t need to be hiding in caves and cracks…
A hermit crab out of its shell. Image courtesy spacemith.com.
As a hermit crab grows it needs to upgrade its housing, necessarily exposing its vulnerable body whilst shifting to a new shell. In the same way, I imagine when leopard cubs start reaching a certain size in which they struggle to squeeze into their den, their mother needs a new site for them.
I’m totally speculating here as there are a combination of factors that will make a leopard move dens (it will ultimately be the female deciding to make the move, not the cubs), but there may be something to be said for the size thing. I can attest to the fact that very young cubs can be squeezed into cracks you never would have thought they would fit into. We have found dens with newborns snugly wedged into the back recesses of a mere gap between rocks; it’s almost like they can compress their bodies.
The Nanga female with her first litter. These cubs would slide into the narrowest crack between two boulders at this den
The advantage of a very narrow den access is that big predators can’t access it. Recent footage of a hyena trying to access the Makomsava female’s previous den was perfect proof of the integrity of a well-chosen den. Camera trap footage of other dens shows similar situations far more regularly than we would want to believe. A young leopard cub’s life is literally a non-stop series of dramatic events that could result in its death. The more trail-cam footage allows us to see and understand what goes on while we aren’t there, the more unbelievable we find it that any cubs survive.
The only surviving cub of the Nanga female, currently territorial northern Marthly. Currently denning north of boundary
Having said that, den choice in female leopards can be particularly poor. The Mashaba female’s first den for her new cub (which has sadly been lost) was a terrible choice, at least to our eyes. Although you would have to physically go and look inside it to see the cub, there was not a single retreat for the young leopard should anything dangerous happen along. Less than ideal.
It was amazing seeing such a small cub, but we – or any predator – could have simply walked in and grabbed it. This exact thing happened in fact, as the Senegal Bush male grabbed the cub out of the den himself and carried it 30 metres away.
My musings here are based mainly around the Makomsava female. She’s moved dens again, although thankfully (for us) not very far, and the new spot is literally 60 metres from the old one. Exactly why she has moved is anyone’s guess. The literature will say that leopards move dens to avoid a scent-build up, but we’ve known females to use the same spot for almost two months.
Parasites might be a contributing factor to a move; it certainly is in wild dogs and other carnivores that den underground.
But I’m sure the size thing must play a role. Cubs surely outgrow a den. The deepest crack on earth isn’t going to save you from a hyena if you can’t fit into it.
Maybe I’m clutching at straws a little with the hermit crab thing, but hey, one draws comparisons where one must…
It is fantastic that both cubs are still alive. Makomsava must be a good mother.
James, We are always praying for the safety of the cubs. Sad to hear that our Mashaba lost her cub… 🙁
It really is surprising when one survives to adulthood. I take it that a great many don’t… I wonder what the statistics are ?
More than 50% don’t make it through their first year sadly…
James, I loved all the photos, especially leopard cubs🤗
I loved this blog, James, weird analogy and all! The banner photo of the cub peering out of the den was so sweet. It’s always seemed to me that Nanga’s cubs had the bluest blue eyes and it appears that daughter Makomsava’s do too!
What an interesting analogy – I never thought about cubs outgrowing their den and needing to move to another space. I had always assumed it was for safety reasons. I always appreciate information like this.
Regardless of the differences, your analogy is apt James!!
Very interesting theory; I think you are right that cubs outgrow their dens.
Great news on Makomsava and her cubs! Being a mother in the bush must be so hard especially for a leopard who’s alone.
Quite an interesting comparison! It is hard to face some of nature’s ways. Killing that tiny cub makes no sense to me, but is a way of life for the Senegal Bush Male.
Just hoping that her cubbies will be safe and sound and grow up quickly!
Love your analogy James..I’m certainly rooting for the Makomsava cub’s 🤞🙏💕
I think you have come to a logical conclusion. There may be many factors that contribute to moving den sites but I think this should be considered as one of them. Thank you for sharing
Interesting and cute!!!