In July this year, we wrote about the evolving relationship between the Three Rivers female and her daughter, who was beginning to spend short periods of time away from her mother. Over the past few months, that gradual separation has continued. The young leopard is now seen alone more frequently, often hunting or resting independently, and the once-close bond between mother and daughter has noticeably shifted.

Here, they paused for a moment, looking around in the surrounding clearings for their next target to hunt. The Young Female was almost copying her mother’s every move.

Increasing Time Alone

As she approaches the age of 19 months, the Three Rivers Young Female has reached the stage where a leopard naturally begins to live more independently. Recent sightings have shown her moving confidently through familiar parts of her mother’s territory, often without any sign of the older female nearby.

The Three Rivers Young Female still has a very pink nose, indicative of a young leopard.

She has been observed trailing impala herds, scanning from termite mounds, and making several hunting attempts on her own. While her success rate is still inconsistent, each attempt is an important step in refining her technique and learning the rhythm of solo life. On at least a few occasions, she has been found with her own kills, a strong indication that she is now capable of providing for herself.

Less Tolerance from Her Mother

Although the pair are occasionally still seen together, their interactions now show clear signs of change. The Three Rivers Female is less tolerant of her daughter’s presence and has been observed snarling or swatting at her when she comes too close. This behaviour is normal among leopards once a cub nears maturity. It is a subtle but firm reminder that the period of dependence is coming to an end.

The young female pictured here on the left-hand side is almost the same size as her mother.

Where the two once shared kills and rested side by side, there is now a noticeable physical distance between them. The younger leopard often settles a short distance away, avoiding direct conflict but maintaining awareness of her mother’s movements. These are the natural growing pains of independence, lessons delivered not through aggression, but through boundaries.

A Typical Pattern Among Leopards

This pattern closely mirrors what has been observed with other successful leopard mothers on Londolozi. As cubs mature, mothers progressively limit their interactions and reduce sharing of food or territory. By doing so, they encourage the young leopard to develop the skills needed to survive alone.

This transition can last several months, with overlapping movements before a clear separation is established. During this time, the young female benefits from the safety of familiar ground while still learning how to navigate the landscape independently.

How Female Territories Are Passed Down

In leopard populations, females tend to remain in or near the area where they were raised. As a daughter matures, her mother often cedes a small portion of her territory, usually along the edges, allowing the younger leopard to establish herself without direct competition. Over time, this can lead to a cluster of related females whose territories overlap slightly or lie adjacent to one another.

The two females lined up perfectly for a drink of water and a perfect reflection

This pattern has been documented across the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and beyond. It explains why certain bloodlines, such as those descending from the Mother Leopard and Sunset Bend Female, can persist for generations in the same region.

By contrast, young males disperse far greater distances, often moving tens of kilometres from their natal area. This dispersal helps to prevent inbreeding and ensures greater genetic diversity across the wider leopard population. It is one of nature’s quiet but effective balancing mechanisms: females anchor family lines, while males spread genes between them.

The Road Ahead

For now, the young female continues to operate within her mother’s range, most often in the central and southern parts of Londolozi. She has not yet begun scent-marking or calling, key behaviours that would signal full territorial establishment, but the steady increase in her solitary movements suggests that independence is close. And with that independence, she will receive a name of her own.

As the weeks pass, sightings of the two leopards together are expected to become even rarer. Eventually, the daughter will settle on her own section of territory, and the Three Rivers Female will resume her solitary existence as a territorial adult with a fully independent offspring.

For those who have followed their journey since the beginning, this stage marks the closing of one chapter and the quiet beginning of another. The Three Rivers Young Female is now standing on her own, a growing presence on Londolozi’s leopard landscape, and the latest in a lineage that continues to thrive.