In this week’s epic endeavour, we set out in search of the Plaque Rock Female in the knowledge that she has given birth to her second litter of cubs as she was seen with suckle marks. Just by chance, we stumble across a Hooded Vulture and Tawny Eagle in very close proximity to each other. This is often a tell-tale sign that there is or was a carcass nearby. Sure enough, we look up and in the branches of a magnificent strangler fig tree is an impala ram carcass. With no signs of the leopard around and it getting dark, we head back to camp with the aim of being there the entire next day hoping that it is the Plaque Rock Female’s carcass and she will lead us back to her den.
The plan was going smoothly until mother nature had different plans and the heavens opened drenching us. However, we did have the Plaque Rock Female return to the carcass reassuring us that we were very close to finding the den.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
A pretty young playful female found along the river to the east of camp
To view the YouTube link, click here.
The playfulness of the cub and the attention given by the mother are both wonderful to observe.
Thank you so much, Vin. It is always the best watching a mother and her cubs.
This is really so exciting that you have even another leopardess that has given birth to two cubs. So great for Londolozi with so many different cubs in your area. Lucky leopards and lucky rangers, trackers and guests.
We are so lucky at the moment to have yet another female leopard with cubs.
Good job in finding the Plaque Rock females new den. The new cubs are very cute. Thanks for sharing the video Sean.
Thank you so much, William. We are so happy to have another leopard den on Londolozi.
Well, you’ve done it again Sean, locating another amazing leopard den , this time belonging to the Plaque Rock female. It’s so exciting that there are now four new mums on the property. I am curious as how many of these little ones share the same father. On another note, I commend your video skills in filming through all the vegetation. I know it can’t have been easy to focus, but the soft green haze through which we look at times to view the cubs, enhances the story of new beginnings for this mom. I did observe that she seemed quite intent on grooming herself whilst the cubs were obviously trying to suckle, and then her wickedly strong tongue turned to them , knocking the one over. Is she a first time mum? I’ll be looking forward to future photos and videos of all these new additions, so fingers crossed that nothing happens to them.
It is so exciting to have the Plaque Rock Female also with cubs. It was a challenge to get the focus right but at least it worked out and I do agree, the green haze around the edge of the frame does add to the story.
What a gift for the weekend! Are they three cubs? Was the mum successful last time,? I know it is against all odds but I do hope all the cubs survive… one of the sweetest videos I’ve ever seen. Once I watched a documentary on the strangler fig tree, it is rather sad that another beautiful tree must die for it to grow, nonetheless it is a gorgeous plant and offers so Much!
Thank you so much, Francesca. No there are just two cubs but they would move around the mother and reappear making it seem as though there are three. The strangler fig trees are incredible trees, but luckily in this case the leadwood is unlikely to die as it is a very hardy tree.
Sean we are so honored to once again see such tiny cubs, so very very special. Thank you for your patience, endurance, you also got drenched, we appreciate it. They are absolutely gorgeous and Mom seems to be quite content with her den. They must be about 2 to 3 weeks old. Gosh there must be al least 4 leopard Mom’s with their cubs presently on Londolozi right now. Really truly blessed.
Thank you so much, Valmai. It is so great to have new cubs around.
Congratulations! What a great sighting of the little ones with Momma! Hoping for a successful raising of the two! You folks are still getting some rain to keep everything happy for the wintertime!
Thank you so much, Debra. We hope she is successful too. Yes, there has been a fair amount of unseasonal winter rainfall this year.
Thanks so much for sharing that incredible footage of mum with her cubs! How rare is it to be able to witness something like that? An Attenborough moment! Can you tell how I can identify the leopards and lions I saw on my trips to Londolozi in 2015 and 2016? Can I send a couple of pics?
Hi Jennifer, it was such a special moment to sit there with her and her cubs. If you send through the pictures to my email (blog@londolozi.co.za) I will have a look and see if we are able to identify them.
Sean, that is just gorgeous – well done for finding the den of Vomba’s great-great-grandcubs! I suppose the father is likely to be either the Senegal Bush or Maxim’s male?
Thank you so much, Suzanne. We presume the father to be the Maxim’s Male, but there is also a chance that it is the Senegal Bush Male.
Love, love, love the Plaque Rock female and her tiny little cubs! That is so exciting! Thank you, Sean Zeederberg!
It is indeed very exciting.
So the suckle marks she was seen with some weeks back are likely from the first litter she had and lost?
No, so this is the story of us discovering the suckle marks a few weeks ago. The first litter she lost last year.
This is so exciting! I don’t remember her first litter. Did they perish right away?
Hi Chelsea, yes sadly they disappeared within a few weeks of being born.
fascinating. I was especially interested in the strangler fig, so I looked it up. Most strangler fig species are indigenous to tropical and subtropical environments. This one must be adapted to somewhat drier climates. Thanks!