It’s not every day your guests ask if you can find them a leopard tortoise… and you actually succeed! To start from the beginning, it had been a hot afternoon in the early days of Spring exploring in the deep southeastern section of the reserve. We had just had a great sighting of the Ntsevu Sub-adults, albeit they were fast asleep in the heat of the afternoon when one of my guests said they would love to look at some of the smaller creatures – I was all for this until he specifically mentioned a leopard tortoise. Knowing that the first rains hadn’t yet arrived and I hadn’t seen a leopard tortoise since last summer I knew the challenge was on.
Leopard tortoises are seen regularly, but only after the rains when there is an abundance of water and fresh grass shoots for them to feed on.
On we went, with everyone on board keeping their eyes peeled for that blotched black and yellow dome sticking out of the long dry grass. Thinking out loud I mentioned to everyone that with a lot of the vegetation still being quite dry, leopard tortoises are likely to remain relatively inactive until the first rains and new shoots start to blossom. It’s not worth it for the tortoises to expend energy searching for green pastures until the first rains have fallen so they tend to overwinter or go into a state of torpor (lower metabolic rate), although not as extensive as hibernation.
After about half an hour of intent scanning, we were all completely thrown off guard by a wildly unexpected sighting of the Inyathini Male! Yes, the Inyathini Male – after some rangers paid him his dues back in September 2020 accepting that he was now a nomadic male living out his twilight years, I didn’t think I would get a chance to see this infamous male leopard. But there he was, walking gracefully as ever just ahead of us with his scars and battered ears retelling his story without me having to narrate anything to my guests. To Ranger Kyle Gordon, who also couldn’t believe his eyes when he recently had a sighting with the Inyathini Male, he expressed that it was like a leopard had risen from the ashes.
At 13 years old, the age and experience of the Inyathini Male are reflected in his low-hanging jowls revealing yellowed and blunted canines, his tattered ears, and his scarred lips.
Another leopard who originated in the Kruger National Park, he has established a large territory in the south eastern areas of Londolozi.
What we witnessed next, really took us all by surprise. The Inyatini Male slowed his pace as he started crouching down and sniffing through the grass. Low and behold he had sniffed out a leopard tortoise and completed our search for us… A leopard and a leopard tortoise! We were completely amazed at our luck for the afternoon, unfortunately, this poor little leopard tortoise did not share the same excitement and luck was not on its side. The Inyathini Male promptly lay down and started gnawing away at the carapace (the top shell of the tortoise) to get to his main meal inside.
Tracker Bennet Mathonsi managed to capture this unique sighting of the Inyathini Male gnawing his way through to his meal.
Leopards are known to be opportunistic hunters, devouring almost anything with flesh on it and the Inyathini Male showed us just how leopards can become even more opportunistic in their older age. While a tortoise’s shell does provide it with shelter and defence against some predators, the shell is essentially comprised of bone, their spine and ribs fused, and covered in scutes which are made of keratin – the same material as our fingernails, this poses no problem for even an old leopards canines to crunch through. Just like tortoises conserve their energy during the dry winter months, the Inyathini Male conserved his energy and took a meal opportunity when he saw one. Although this was certainly nothing my guest could ever have imagined witnessing when they asked to see a leopard tortoise, we were even more enthralled by such a unique sighting.
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Nature can always surprise us, thanks Kelsey for sharing this encounter.
My pleasure William!
I certainly learned a number of interesting facts. First no one has ever mentioned a leopard to me, nor have I heard about the “roving” older leopard. I am sorry the turtle got eaten, but I do know the law of the jungle rules. What an interesting afternoon . Thankyou Victoria
I am glad you learnt something new and I could introduce you to the Leopard Tortoise and the Inyathini male Victoria. A sad day for the tortoise but as you say a great afternoon nonetheless.
Poor tortoise! It’s a real pity to find one and then watch as it is being crunched… anyway I’m glad to see the Iniathini male, a real symbol of resilience and still a wonderful beast. Wish him a long life
It was a rather sad day for the Tortoise but a successful meal opportunity for the Inyathini male. He was seen again recently and is still going strong!
Kelsey that was a combination sighting as you saw the leopard and the leopard tortoise together. Much to my surprise the Inyathini male eating the tortoise with the hard shell. He definitely was hungry , other wise I think he would of looked for something else to eat.
Thanks Valmai. I’m sure he must have been hungry but also willing to conserve energy and crunch through the shell for an easy meal. Leopards are often very opportunistic when it comes to hunting.
An amazing story – and Inyathini no less! Great!
Thank you Mary! He is still going strong.
Wow Kelsey…how lucky is that to not only see the old Inyathini male but for him to point you to your leopard tortoise ..just rather sad that the ‘mission of the day’ was eaten. Still if it means it gives Inyathini another day with a meal so be it. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏻❤️
Thank you Cally, it was a lucky afternoon indeed – not so much for the Tortoise but a good meal for the Inyathini male.
An amazing experience for your guest. I wonder how often, on average, guests would like to see some special animal during their stay and then in fact can see it.
Thanks Christa, anything is possible out here so you just never know!
Wow, that was a sighting for the record book – leopard eating a leopard tortoise. On the one hand I’m happy to learn the Inyathini male is still around, but surprised he took the time and effort to eat a tortoise. It just goes to show any living animal moving can be a meal( even an appetizer) for a predator. Hopefully your guest wasn’t too upset by the result of the sighting.
Thanks Denise! He sure didn’t hesitate to take the tortoise as a good meal opportunity and thankfully my guests were very happy with such a unique sighting despite the fate of the tortoise.
Kelsey, Sounds like you need to be careful what you ask for! Thanks for the update on the Inyatini Male – he looks like he’s as strong as ever, even if he showing a little wear and tear!
Wow Kelsey!! This type of coincidence, or serendipity if you like, is the stuff of nature documentaries – truly amazing!!
A sad day for the tortoise but always a happy day when a leopard gets a meal. How cool to have both sightings together!