The leopard dynamics at Londolozi are constantly changing, and over the past few years, we have seen some significant shifts in the territories of our resident males. With a few familiar faces disappearing from the landscape and others moving further afield, there is now a real possibility for a new male to establish himself in some of the open areas of the reserve. One individual who has recently caught our attention is the Nottens Male.
Born 2021, mirrors father Nweti's presence. Young force showing remarkable confidence while navigating nomadic phase in southern territories
The disappearance of the Nweti Male (one year ago) from the deep southern and eastern reaches of Londolozi, the loss of the Mawelawela Male (last 3 months) following injuries sustained in an encounter with lions, and the disappearance of the Senegal Bush Male (two years ago) have all contributed to these changes. More recently, the Tortoise Pan Male has been spending more time further north in the Sabi Sands, while the Hlambela Male has become relatively settled in the northwestern parts of the reserve. The Maxim’s Male, meanwhile, appears to be spending more time further south of our camps. All these movements leave certain areas with less consistent male leopard activity, creating opportunities for new individuals to explore and potentially establish territories of their own.
This is where the Nottens Male comes into the picture. Although he has spent much of his time in the northern Sabi Sands, he recently ventured into the northern reaches of Londolozi, exploring an area north of the Sand River where there appears to be an opportunity for a male to establish himself. Having grown up just south of the reserve, and spending time around his father’s territory in the southeastern parts of Londolozi, he is no stranger to the surrounding landscape. Now a large, impressive male in his own right, he seems to be entering a stage of life where finding a territory of his own becomes increasingly important.
During our sighting, he spent around two days in the area. He was relaxed in our presence and moved confidently through the landscape, scent-marking as he went. At one point, he managed to kill a nyala, only for hyenas to steal his meal. While losing a kill is never ideal, it was another glimpse into the challenges these males face as they navigate their way through an ever-changing landscape.
What was particularly interesting, however, was his behaviour throughout the sighting. He was not simply passing through without leaving a trace. His repeated scent-marking suggested that he was communicating his presence to any other leopards moving through the area. Of course, scent-marking alone does not mean that a male has decided to settle, but it certainly adds another layer of intrigue to his movements.
Male leopards need more than just space to establish a successful territory. They need a reliable supply of prey, access to water and, importantly, the opportunity to overlap with female territories. They must also be able to defend their ground against other males that may have similar ambitions. With so many changes taking place around Londolozi, the question is whether the Nottens Male will recognise the opportunity available to him.
We have only had this recent sighting to go on, and it would be premature to suggest that he is about to become a resident of the area. He may continue roaming, or another male may eventually challenge his movements. But with the northern and northeastern parts of Londolozi offering a potential opening, there is certainly room for speculation.
For now, we will have to wait and see whether the Nottens Male returns. Perhaps these two days were simply a brief visit, or perhaps they were the first steps towards something more permanent. In a landscape where leopard territories are constantly shifting, it is exciting to think that we may be witnessing the beginning of a new chapter.
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