One leopard we have not seen for quite some time now is the Inyathini Male. In years past, he was a regular presence across Londolozi and was territorial over almost the entire central and eastern parts of the reserve, south of the Sand River.
The Inyathini Male in his prime, during a territorial patrol. He leaps across a few exposed boulders to cross a deep water channel.
Tracking this leopard could sometimes take many hours, spaced across a couple of game drives. He could quite comfortably cover over 10km throughout the course of the night whilst patrolling his territory. Of the known leopards across the Sabi Sand region, I would be surprised if any of the males currently hold territory as large as the Inyathini Male once did. We worked it out to be roughly 50 square kilometres in extent, in what we would consider to be prime habitat for leopards.
Male leopards have huge territories, throughout which they need to maintain their physical presence. This is done via scent marking or vocalizing (rasping). Any ‘vacant’ areas will be encroached upon by other males, which means they will go to great lengths to patrol their territories no matter the obstacles across the terrain – as can be seen by the photograph above.
Typically, males will base their territories on trying to encompass as many female territories as possible. This explains a great deal as to why the Inyathini Male’s territory was so large. During his time as a territorial male, he managed to leave quite a legacy – siring a number of different litters of cubs with multiple females within his territory. Perhaps even beyond his territory too.
The Inyathini Male and the Ximungwe Female mating in 2018. The cub that survived from this litter went on to become the Mahlahla Male, who is now territorial in the northern parts of the Manyeleti Game Reserve – roughly 30km from where he was born on Londolozi.
The Inyathini Male, and a male cub he sired with the Ndzanzeni Female. This cub is now known as the Tortoise Pan Male and is territorial to the north of Marthly.
Many a season has passed since then and times have changed now. As surely as night follows day, old age will follow youth, and a successor their predecessor. As the years ticked by, we witnessed the rapid recession of his once enormous domain, to a thin strip on either side of the Sand River, around the Dudley Riverbank area. Younger, powerful males of a new era, such as the Nweti Male, Senegal Bush Male and Maxims Male forced him into the confines of a shy, secretive existence where keeping a low profile was the goal of each day. It would only be a matter of time before he would come face to face with his final foe.
The Inyathini Male. It goes without saying that this brute of a leopard was willing to pay the price for the legacy he now leaves behind.
Following the natural order of the wild, we’re quite certain that The Inyathini Male’s existence has finally come to an end. Interestingly, one of the last confirmed sightings of him was after he had discovered some of the den sites that the Ntsevu lionesses had been using whilst raising their very first litters of cubs with the Ndzhenga Male Lions. If you just think about how pivotal a moment in the history of lion dynamics that was – an old male leopard, living out the last of his twilight days, wipes out an entire generation of lion cubs belonging to the most dominant coalition in the Londolozi region. Simply some food for thought as to how things unfold out here. But also symbolic of the Inyathini Male leaving a big presence wherever he goes. This leopard has provided Rangers, Trackers and guests alike with almost a decade of leopard viewing on Londolozi.
Although his time on this earth has come and gone, his legacy continues to live on through the lineages of current leopards on Londolozi. If one simply considers the power of ‘the butterfly effect’, you can imagine how huge of a role this leopard played in laying the foundations for present-day dynamics and populations of not only leopards but many other animals across the Greater Kruger region. He certainly won’t be forgotten.
As is always the case, we delight in these leopard’s lives and mourn their passing. I didn’t know Inyathini but I have seen his son Tortoise Pan who is doing a great job of protecting his new cub with Xidulu. These big successful dominant boys are to be cherished while they rule in the Sabi Sands. RIP Inyathini
He was such an amazing leopard to watch.
In 2018 at Londolozi we finished an exhilarating run with a pack of Wild Dog and were returning to Camp when our vehicle broke down from all the brush beating the undercarriage to keep up with the Dogs. Dean Del La Rey didn’t miss a beat an said, “Well this is as good a place as any to have a Sundowner.” They set up a bar while we waited for the (grinning) relief fellows to arrive with new wheels. And then it Happened…It took us by Surprise…The Magnificent Inyathini Male came casually strolling down the road in the sunset!!! It was not only a Magic Moment, but a Magical Day that we will never forget.
That last b/w shot…wow!
We saw the Inyathini male in 2019 and I fell in love with him at first sight. His face told the story of a battle filled life. He had so much character about him. I am honored that I was able to spend some time in his presence, always hoped I would see him one more time. He will never be forgotten
He had a powerful presence. I always felt that that lip scar added to his ‘tough guy’ look! RIP Inyathini.
So sad he’s gone. I was waiting for a long time to hearing news of him. I remember how he was thought to be probably dead, and then he was seen again. He was a leopard to the fullest point, to wipe out all lions cubs. Terrible. But then that’s what a male leopard is… maybe lions killed him? His pictures make feel goosebumps. The picture with his son is incredibly sweet.
Matt, thank you for the history of the Inyathini male. He was certainly a dominant force during his lifetime.
Matt he was a stunning leopard and his legacy will live on. His lineage lives on and he won’t be forgotten at all.
It is always sad when the life of an admired and amazing animal comes to its end.
And it’s really good that- after having got to know these animals personally – we can follow their fates via the Londolozi blog. So it’s possible to say good bye to such a wonderful leopard ( or any other well-known animal).
The Inyathini leopard was certainly an impressive leopard and a force to be reckoned with, needless to say. During my first stay at Londolozi in 2018, I was fortunate to spend time with one of his offspring, the now Tortoise Pan male. A couple days later we had quick look at Inyathini as he quickly made his way from the road into the brush as we were on our way to camp. It’s heartbreaking to realize that he is most likely gone, passing into a new “territory” where he has no competition and lots of prey. May he live forever in his offspring and to those that had the pleasure of viewing him.
What an artfully written and beautiful tribute this is to him. I wasn’t aware he had ‘wiped out’ the Ntsevu/Ndzhenga Cubs. There has always been a feeling I have had that the Ndzhenga males have handicaps in their genes that may not be healthy to be passed on. Though none of us want to see any animal, especially the young killed, as nature works to weed out the weak it makes me think it was nature doing this again through the Inyathini male’s actions. We may never know exactly how large his role was but your posts certainly brings attention to most if not all of it. Truly lovely. Thank you! You had me in tears on this reading 🙂
Crazy to think a Leopard can wipe out a whole generation of Lions.
I’d imagine lots of animals just wander into Kruger never to be seen again.
It is always sad to loose on of our legends. From what I have read he was born in 2008 to a Kruger female. he would be 15 this year, but think he may have left this earth in 2022. Thank you for the blog on Inyathini, may his genes be spread far and wide.