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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19 Comments

on Habituating a Leopard Cub

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Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

Lovely sighting of the leopards in the river. It is so exciting to see a leopard for the first time.

Joan Schmiidt
Master Tracker

James, I loved all the photos🤗

Kara Taylor
Master Tracker

Amazing. My first leopard cub sighting was outstanding. Very Very similar to this experience except in the end they found a small water hole and both drank out of it as we gazed on in utter disbelief.

Laura Eberly
Digital Ranger

The Piccadilly Female is very special to us. She and her sister Sibyue were the first leopard cubs we ever saw in 2014. We were fortunate to spend 2 hours with them and their Mom Kikilezi. Then in 2018 we saw her with her male cub. We spent an evening, he was very relaxed. Unfortunately he disappeared shortly thereafter. I do hope she can raise this one to independence safely. She is a love.

Darlene Knott
Master Tracker

Wow, what a ‘first sighting’ of a leopard for those guests! Amazing indeed! Leopards are my favorites!

Michael and Terri Klauber
Guest contributor

Great story James! The habituation process and the ultimate success by your team is a testament to the patience the the ranger team and conservation protocols in place at Londolozi!

Francesca Doria
Master Tracker

I’m sure animals know it’s humans in the landrover – like tigers in India they are well acquainted and habituated with all sorts of vehicles and people. It’s almost moving as wild animals such as big cats are persecuted for their beautiful fur or bones.

Marcia Parker
Digital Tracker

Wonderful seeing the two leopards cross the sands in that huge expanse of greens and gold!

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

Great sighting of the Piccadilly female and her cub. I tend to agree with you that non-habituated leopards can be more interesting to view, although that being said, I would certainly appreciate a leopard to come up to the Land Rover and just sit with us!

Vin Beni
Guest contributor

Thanks for clarifying the habituation process–I had actually never thought about how it happened.

Christa Blessing
Master Tracker

Great pictures of mother and cub.

Cally Staniland
Master Tracker

I would give my eye teeth to see a leopard and her cub !!! How wonderfully special for your guests 🙏💕

Linda Deutsch
Digital Ranger

Magical!!!!!

Lisa Antell
Master Tracker

Seeing leopards and cubs in the wild never ever ever becomes ordinary or mundane. Truly one of the most wonderful experiences you can have.

Suzanne Gibson
Guest contributor

What a wonderful sighting! Any ideas why the Piccadilly female is shifting her territory – surely that’s a risky venture with a cub?

Wendy Macnicol
Digital Tracker

Hi James. We go along with your thinking. Acclimatizing a young Leopard must be MUCH more rewarding! This would apply to any youngster actually. We wish the Mom and Youngster everything of the best at Londolozi! Thanks for the pics, James. Keep them coming! Wendy M

Victoria Auchincloss
Master Tracker

Fabulous! thank you Victoria

Michael Fleetwood
Master Tracker

The habituation process is something I find absolutely incredible to see documented (I unfortunately have not been in the bush in person to have any firsthand knowledge of it, though I would love to be a ranger doing just that one day), and to see the transformation of a leopard or any animal from a naturally-nervous animal into a relaxed being is so incredible and rewarding I’m sure for the rangers and their guests who put in so much effort and patience into doing so. Hopefully the cub (who I’m assuming has yet to be sexed?) will relax in time as the Nhlanguleni Female did over time (if I’m not mistaken she and her brother were never relaxed as cubs but she eventually became used to them).

Paul Canales
Master Tracker

Very cool post James! As fascinating as it was informative (which is completely par for the course for you all at Londolozi!), and what a treat to see the pair in the riverbed for you and the lucky guests!

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