Today’s Virtual Safari takes a pretty difficult turn as we unravel the sequence of events that led to the Nkoveni Young Female being killed by the Kambula Pride. The Nkoveni Female has shown over the last 11 months that she is in fact a phenomenal mother. However, as we take a deeper dive we are able to highlight a few factors that certainly played a part in the Nkoveni Female losing yet another cub to the Kambula Pride.
This sighting was not an easy one for the Rangers to be a part of and I am sure will, sit at the forefront of their minds for many months to come.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
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I won’t lie; I shed a few tears at the demise of Nkoveni’s female cubs demise. I saw them at Londolozi in September on two occasions and it is hard to think that her life was so quickly snuffed out. If I am upset about it, I can only image what you guys must have felt. Thanks for the explanation, Sean.
Thank you so much, Fransje. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to witness that first hand, just watching the videos of it was hard.
Hi, my first thought was… oh no! It’s almost unbelievable, I watched a short video of the Nkoveni Female and both cubs with the Maxim male, all very relaxed. I thought what a nice father he was. Lions are apex predators, like tigers in Asia or jaguars in South America, they can’t tolerate any other predators that can compete with them for preys. None the less, it was wonderful to see how the wonderful Nkoveni trio was progressing, the daughter a true little poser… it’s so sad. Lions are cunning, strong, unbeatable. The little male quickly thought and got the first chance to save his life. The mother likely didn’t want to leave her daughter and vice versa. Evolution favours the animals that choose the best chance to survival. But it was very hard to look at. Now that fantastic but unlucky mother must go on and be as strong as ever, like her mother. I shed a tear, because I had the trio at heart a lot.
It was a tragic loss. But yes, the Nkoveni Female is a remarkable mother and so we wish her luck with this last remaining cub.
How heartbreaking–another cub lost this week after the Tsalala female lost her remaining cubs. Of course this is nature, but it doesn’t make it less painful. I imagine the people who saw it happen live were really struggling. The good news is that there is still another cub, and it’s less pressure on the Nkoveni female to feed as many mouths. I’m not sure if it’s better to know what happened, or to just know a cub has been lost. Regardless, it’s not an outcome anyone was hoping for.
I think the guys that saw it live were a little shellshocked. It was such a sad loss.
While I can’t watch this video myself ( it is to much for me). I do appreciate why others may watch. It is a snap shot into the harsh realities of life in the wild, and a reminder that this really isn’t Disneyland. Thank you for sharing the good and the heart wrenching.
The harsh realities of motherhood in the wild.
I am devastated at this news. We were at Londolozi in late Sept & we’re blessed to have 2 different visits with this little family. So so devastating. I now understand even more how these leopards & this place take a place in your heart 💔
I am so glad that you got to see the Nkoveni Family and enjoy time with them. They certainly steal your heart.
Sean, you’ve posted another epic tale. I admit I am saddened by the loss and held my breathe viewing it!
It is a hard one to watch but I think it is important to share the story.
Sean, very difficult story to experience let alone tell. I can only say thank you for posting this video as hard as I am sure it was to put together.
It was somewhat of a challenge, But I am glad I was able to share the story with everyone irrespective of how sad the story is.
Hi Sea, I am heartbroken to hear and see how this beautiful female leopard cub was killed. So absolutely devastating to realize that Nkoveni has lost another cu to the Kambula pride. I feel so sorry for her. That is nature, but it does not make it easier to watch. I think you Rangers are also heartsore over this loss of the second, seeing that they were there when it happened. I really do hope the male cub will survive till he goes on his own.
I think we are all now seriously rooting for the Nkoveni Female to successfully raise this young male. She has had a tough time, but that is the realities of motherhood in the wild.
Sean, That was really hard to watch for sure. No way could Terri do it. The reality in the wild is hard to understand, but it is the real world for these beautiful, but dangerous animals. We pray that the young male makes it!
We are all hoping that the young male makes it. I am sure this video would be too hard for many people to watch.
Such sad news again, Sean, after the Tsalala lioness’ loss of all three cubs only a couple of weeks ago. Now the Nkoveni’s young daughter… It really moves me to tears. I saw that gorgeous female cub and her brother and mother in September and it seemed that the two cubs would be able to survive the difficult time of childhood. But nature is indeed cruel. It must have been very very difficult to watch. Especially to witness and know that the leopards were walking into a totally fatal direction.
The magnificent mothers out here have had a tough time of late. Hopefully, there is only good news from here forward, well at least for the next little while.
This was devastating news, needless to say. I was prepared for a virtual safari to report on the news , but the actual footage of the brutal attack left me in tears. I thought back to my visit last month and was grateful for the two drives where we viewed the family of three. My friend and I were delighted to watch these siblings stalk and play with one another always under the watchful eyes of Nkoveni. Our videos now are priceless. Perhaps because the male cub is more inquisitive and rambunctious, he was fortunate enough to spot the danger and fly up the Marula to safety. His sister, well behind him had no idea of the danger and by the time they were in front of her it was too late. It’s just amazing that Nkoveni escaped with minor wounds. After this scare, it will be interesting to see if Nkoveni can rein in her remaining cub, a male who’s almost as large as her. She’s never raised a male so the next few months will be challenging for her.
I was in two minds as to whether we put this story out or not, but I feel that it is important to share everything that happens here as hard as it may be.
I am glad you at least got to spend some time with the Nkoveni Trio during your recent trip.
Having watched the two cubs at a few months of age, surprised by the energy of the male cub devouring the kill without a break in the two hours we patiently waited for him to allow the his sister a bite. Sad to hear this beautiful female cub who had such deep attractive eyes was chased and killed by the Kambula pride. But glad the male survived the ordeal. Surprising that the females did not get alerted by the lions chasing the male. Nkoveni female is phenomenal and we look forward to seeing her again soon.
It was such heartbreaking news that she was killed. But I am glad that you at least enjoyed a great sighting of the cubs, as the young male dominated the carcass. I was also surprised by the whole ordeal, there were a number of factors that all had me wondering how she didn’t notice them or had me questioning her decision making.
I’m not sure I can watch this… 🙁
It is a hard one to watch but I do put in disclaimers when there is any graphic footage.
I did end up watching because I figured you would warn us and I so appreciate that!! But so so sad 🙁 Maybe weird question but I have to ask in hopes of a bit of solace…do lions just kill leopards or will they eat them too? And is it for competitive/territorial reasons they would kill or did the leopards just make too easy of a meal walking right at the pride? Appreciate you Sean!
So lions would only really kill the leopard to eliminate competition, it is unlikely that they would eat it. In some rare instances they have eaten it afterwards but it is not the norm.
I am glad I am able to share these stories with you all, no matter where you are in the world.
Crazy that they realize competition. Animals are so much smarter than most people give them credit for. I bet the young male will have learned so much from that episode and it will be an advantage for him going forward in his life despite the sadness of losing his sister. So amazing.
Man Sean, such a brutal and difficult situation for the Nkoveni female and her cubs to walk into. As devastating as it is for her to lose her female cub, it’s a wonder that she and her male young male survived at all. I really appreciate your explanation of how you all steer clear of any impact in these situations, and instead allowing nature to take its full course. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the rangers on-site. A harrowing video for sure, but important in that it allows one to fully appreciate the exact nature of the wild environment you all steward at Londolozi. Thank you, and wishing the Nkoveni female and her remaining male cub the very best of luck going forward.
Thank you so much, Paul. Yes, it was indeed a very harrowing video and I can only imagine being there to witness it first hand. We try our best to not intervene or impact the wilderness around us, and I think in this situation it was handled as well as possible.
Dear Sean, there are no words for that dramatical situation. But thanks for the lovely amazing short cuts of the earlier time of the cubs-it helps.
Thank you so much, Jutta. I am glad you enjoyed those clips, I had to put in something to lift the mood.