The Dynamic Duo, that is the Tsalala Pride have returned to Londolozi once again. Although an incredibly short sighting, it was a magical one nonetheless. Having had a brief glimpse of them around midday as they walked in front of the Londolozi Camps, we then found them perched as regal as the Avoca Male on the large boulders in the Sand River downstream. Shortly after finding them, they set off in pursuit of a male nyala to which they were unsuccessful.
The open grasslands are now home to an enlarged ostrich family as we welcome and introduce the fourteen new ostrich chicks. Estimated to be about two weeks old the chicks are cute and entertaining.
We finish off with an incredible sighting of the Ximungwe Female and the Nhlanguleni Female feeding on the same impala carcass.
Enjoy this Week in Video…
Initially skittish she spent a lot of time in the Sand River, now relaxed she makes up the majority of leopard viewing west of camp.
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
To view the YouTube link, click here.
The ostrich chicks are so cute! I do hope that a fair number of them will survive. The mother’s behavior chasing away all the other female ostriches is pretty impressive. My question: Why do those other females pose a danger to the chicks? Would they hurt them if they could?
And the encounter of the two leopards is also great. In a way their “co-operation” -if I may call this so – seems to work and both of them have the chance to feed on one carcass.
The ostrich chicks are really cute. I don’t think the other ostriches would harm the ostrich chicks, it is most likely a protective behaviour where she just doesn’t want any other ostriches near them for now. Also bearing in mind that not all of the chicks are actually hers. The Major female will lay about 5-10 eggs then the other minor females will lay eggs in the nest around hers. The major will incubate the eggs and take on the role of primary caregiver when they hatch. So she is probably being sensitive and doesn’t want the other females to try claim any chicks.
And yes, great news that the Nhlanguleni female seems to have a cub or cubs again.
It is great news, we just hope that she is successful in raising them.
What a video full of news that make awww! The Tsalala heroines finally, safe and sound… the beautiful nyala bull and the unbelievably cute ostrich chicks! They are like clever children going to school… and in the end the surprise of the two leopard mums sharing food and their silhouettes in the sunset. Just spectacular one of the best video ever!
Thank you so much, Francesca. It was a great video. We are happy to have seen the Tsalala Pride back here again. The ostrich chicks are so awesome how they walk in single file. The two leopards at the end were great and such exciting news that the Nhlanguleni Female has got cubs.
Thanks again! Lovely to see those chicks, I think they are the nicest of all birds…. Just a question though. I think I heard Sean say that the ostriches can do up to 707-75 km per hour. The text in the video mentioned 22 pmh….. Typo? And so good to see the Tsalalala’s again!
HI Irene, yes that is a Typo, apologies. It is about 46mph.
Hi Sean ,wonderful shots of the ostrich chick’s and I was quite surprised to see the female chase the other ostriches away. Very cute and cuddly the little ostriches. So excited to see the Nhlanguleni females has suckle marks, that means more leopards cubs for us to see. Glad the two females shared the kill with no interaction between them.
Thank you, Valmai. We were surprised too, normally it is the male ostrich that would chase any intruders away.
Yes there is a potential that there are more cubs around, but we first need to find the den and hope that she keeps the safe.
Lovely to see the Tsalala’s back again. The eldest female has lost the tip of her tail – poor girl : (
Hi Lisa, yes she has sadly lost the tip of her tail but it is not life threatening.
A nice cat drive Sean. Love the ostrich chicks – they are so cute and fluffy. Enjoyed the trip. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Leonie.
It’s terrific to see not only the ostrich chicks in video, but the female chasing after the others, I guess to let them know who’s in charge.
Good to see my favorite ladies, Tsalala pride, back in Londolozi territory and looking well. No sign of possible cubs from them I’m assuming. The daughter should be ready to mate -yes?!
If Nhlanguleni has cubs denned, then it would seem almost all the Londolozi female leopards have given birth this year, save for Finfoot who moved south. This could really change the future dynamics….
Hi Denise, the ostrich sighting was great, seeing the chicks and the mother chasing the others away.
Although it was such a brief sighting of the Tsalala Pride, it was great to have them back around. We were not able to see whether she was pregnant or not but hoping that she may be.
And yes there are more female leopards that have given birth than females that have not.
Loved the time spent with the Ostriches Sean ! Super interesting facts regarding the way the nest is reused and how the chicks break out into the world. Hoping, that if not all, most of the chicks make it to adulthood as the odds certainly are against them! Wonderful to hear there are more leopard cubs too! Of course the highlight was seeing my all time hero, mother Tsalala and her now fully grown cub. Always very special to know they are both doing so well. Did mother loose that tail end with the scuffle with the Birmingham male and Ntsevu pride…I don’t recall seeing it gone before?
I loved spending time filming the ostrich chicks, and I share the same sentiment that at least some of them survive to adulthood.
The older Tsalala Female only lost the tip of her tail recently, I believe in a skirmish with hyenas over a carcass when she was off to the west of Londolozi.
Thank you for the wonderful sighting of the Tsalala girls and everything else too!
Thanks for all that ostrich info in the video! The behavior of the major really got me interested in the question of the chicks imprinting on the mother. Thanks!
Thank you, Marcia. I am sure there must be some level of imprinting on the mother. I will look into that and see if I can find anything further.