Aptly following on from a recent Virtual Safari featuring the Nkoveni Female Leopard and her young male as they explored new ground around the Sand River, I wanted to share another sighting that deepens our understanding of this dynamic.
With the Nkoveni Young Male increasingly testing the boundaries of independence, and the Nkoveni Female herself exploring further afield, it seems their movements haven’t gone unnoticed. The Three Rivers Female, one of their prominent neighbours, has begun asserting her own interests in this contested zone.
The Three Rivers Female was seen scent-marking in the Maxabene riverbed, shortly after being found with the Nkoveni Young Male, in the heart of what has usually been considered Nkoveni’s territory.
Forced into early independence at 11 months. Despite her small size, she's proven resilient, currently raising a cub in SE Londolozi.
On a recent morning drive, we heard the surprising news that the Three Rivers Female had been found alongside the Nkoveni Young Male, right in the heart of what we typically consider Nkoveni’s territory. We joined the sighting quickly, eager to see how it would unfold.
When we arrived, the Three Rivers Female was scent-marking profusely in the Maxabene riverbed. Her deliberate movements sent a clear message: this patch of land is spoken for.
Why Was the Three Rivers Female There?
It’s not entirely uncommon for the Three Rivers Female to push north of her usual range. Female leopards are fiercely territorial, especially with other females. The Nkoveni Female has long been one of her primary rivals at Londolozi, and they have had memorable confrontations before (some may recall their dramatic clash).
A battered and bruised Three Rivers Female after her intense altercation with the Nkoveni Female a while ago.
Over the past year or so, both females have focused on raising cubs, limiting their need to expand or challenge boundaries due to the risk of injury while responsible for young. But now, things are changing.
The Three Rivers Female’s daughter is about 16 months old, approaching the age of independence. Leopard mothers often cede part of their territory to a female offspring. This means the Three Rivers Female must secure enough land for herself and her daughter’s future range.
Three Rivers and the Three Rivers Young Female.
A Display of Dominance
That morning’s sighting offered a window into this unfolding tension. The Three Rivers Female wasn’t overtly aggressive, but she made her dominance clear. She snarled, salivated, and followed the young male closely, scent-marking his path as if to lay claim.
Three Rivers Female salivating as she follows in the Nkoveni Young Male’s footsteps.
Interestingly, the Nkoveni Young Male seemed largely unfazed. He continued moving through central parts of his mother’s territory, seemingly undeterred by her displays. This kind of encounter is new ground for him as he nears independence. While he isn’t yet sexually mature, he’s beginning to navigate a world of adult leopard politics and neighbouring females.
Nkoveni Young Male pauses for a moment as he watches the Three Rivers Female following him.
For the Three Rivers Female, still raising her own not-so-little daughter, risk aversion may have tempered her aggression. Even so, her message was unmistakable: this is contested land. The Three Rivers Female probably sees the young male as a threat to her daughter and would rather push him away with her displays. Because he is not yet a large, dominant male and not sexually mature the Three Rivers Female is not keen on him hanging around.
The Nkoveni Young Male with the Three Rivers Female sitting in front of him, asserting her dominance.
What Lies Ahead
It will be fascinating to see how long the Nkoveni Young Male remains in this “grey area” of his mother’s territory, especially given her rivalry with the Three Rivers Female. And who knows—we may yet witness equally intriguing interactions if he encounters the Ximungwe Female, another dominant neighbour in the region.
Watching the Nkoveni Young Male grow has been a privilege for all of us over the past 18 months. But there’s always a bittersweetness in seeing these signs of independence, knowing he will one day leave his mother’s territory behind altogether.
Seemingly unphased by the Three Rivers Female’s domineering snarls and presence, the Nkoveni Young Male continued to casually move through the central part of his mother’s territory.
What an interesting interaction with so many factors to consider. If the Three Rivers Female wasn’t raising a cub of her own, I wonder if she would have been more aggressive or even tried to kill the young male, or if he’s large enough now that she wouldn’t have risked a fight. Given the history between the Three Rivers and Nkoveni females, this has the makings of a gangster movie. Lets hope they can all coexisting relatively peacefully as the cubs enter into independence.
These are really interesting interactions between the rival’s son (i.e. Nkoveni Female) and the Three Rivers Female. Do you think they might even mate one day if he stays around in the area? Or her daughter and him. Are they half brother and sister? Or do they have two different fathers?
Anyway, the movements and relationships between the different leopards are always intriguing.
Hi Kate, such an interesting interaction! Yes, the Three Rivers female is surely on the alert because her daughter is still vulnerable and unexperienced. Of course, the Nkoveni young male has no trouble in his mother’s territory and doesn’t see an adult female as a menace. Just someone new on the ground. If the Three Rivers female was in heat that would change things… sadly, the Nkoveni young male must disperse, as he’s too related to the Three Rivers young female, the Ximungwe female and so on… the fact that leopards have such wide territories prevent inbreeding and is a winner move for the species. He’s such a great guy with all characteristics from the Nkoveni and the Mashaba female… the Three Rivers young female is so well visible in that beautiful picture along the river, she reminds her grandparents. I can’t see well the picture of the Xidulu female and the Piva male, but she definitely has something inherited from them. Gorgeous animals!
Thanks for the update Kate! We look forward to seeing the male become independent. We have a name to throw in the mix for him! Tsakani! In Shangaan it roughly means “brings joy and happiness”! We had a great time riding with Nick and Joy!
Fascinating tale of leopard interaction and behaviors. The Nkoveni Young Male seems more confident than concerned, more savvy than naive. Watching him mature is delightful!
I spent time with both Three Rivers and her daughter, and Nkoveni and her two cubs last September and wishing all of these cats will sort themselves out without much aggression!
Reading your account of this encounter, it makes me wonder if Three Rivers knew who the young male was, or if it was a general warning to deter him from hanging around. Given Nkoveni hasn’t ceded this part of her territory to Xinkhova, I’m curious why she is looking further north when that section of the Maxabene River bed is prime territory for her, and where she raises her cubs. With so many females on the property, and another soon to be independent, it would appear that there could be an altercation or two in the future. Nkoveni young male seemed unfazed by the presence of Three Rivers female, even with her growling and scent marking, but if she had been more aggressive, I’m curious as to what he would do. I’m looking forward to further posts about who will claim this territory….
Hi Kate, I think the young male knows this territory is his mother’s territory, so he feels he has the right to be there. The fight between Nkoveni and the Three Rivers female was brutal, and we forsure don’t won’t anything like that occurring again. Maybe the Three Rivers female feels her young female cub needs this territory and that’s why she is scent marking it. Soon the young male will leave his mom’s territory seeking his own territory. Thanks for the update on these amazing leopards.