This week’s Virtual Safari is almost entirely devoted to the Ximungwe Female Leopard, and it’s safe to say she’s back to her best.
Over three days, we enjoyed incredible views of her feeding on a hoisted impala carcass, full-bellied and confident. When she finally descended the marula tree, it was clear she had something else on her mind. Constantly vocalising, she marched through some stunning clearings, climbing termite mounds to call from higher ground, determined to find a male.
What followed was a fascinating sequence of encounters. First, she was found only a few hours later, with another carcass hoisted. Secondly, the Nkoveni Young Male, who had claimed her carcass overnight. Then, the arrival of the Maxim’s Male, and with him, the first stages of a courtship. At first, he showed little interest, while she persisted, almost urging him to respond. It was a rare chance to witness the delicate, almost awkward early phase of leopard mating.
By the next morning, the rangers confirmed the two had begun mating properly, signalling a new chapter in this resilient leopard’s story.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
Dominant since 2019. Once skittish Kruger-born giant now rules vast territory, transforming from elusive presence to formidable force.
The last surviving cub of a litter of three, he is on the cusp of independence.
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My goodness she had to work hard for that! Let’s hope she can mate with at least one other male to confuse paternity and bring us some more cubs soon.
He was playing hard to get, normally its the other way around isn’t it? I am sure she will go out in search of other males after she is done here with the Maxim’s Male.
What a wonderful Virtual Safari, Sean. Ximungwe certainly had to be persistent. It got me wondering…..the Maxim’s male knew the Nkoveni young male is his son. I think Xinkhova is his daughter? – would he similarly recognise her, and vice versa? As she’s of mating age and he has such a large territory, she’d have to go some distance to find a non-related male.
Thank you so much, Suzanne. Yes, I think that they do recognise each other. But I wonder if he at this stage now, he sees her as his daughter or just as another adult female to mate with. I think there must be some recognition and I am sure she will move further afield to find a mate.
Fascinating watching the mating ritual beginnings. And how exciting that she has already mated so soon after losing her cub.
It was so interesting, it took forever for her to convince him. Yes, they can meet up with a male and mate within two weeks of losing a cub.
Stunning footage. No better way to start the day in the USA than with The Londolozi Blog
Thanks so much, I am glad we could share this with you and give you such a great start to your day.
Fantastic video!!
Thank you so much
Hi Sean, you caught another chapter in the Ximungwe female ‘s life! So sorry for her precious cub, I hope she will have others. I can’t help but being totally captured by her perfection, both she and the Nkoveni Female are two masterpieces of nature by the Mashaba female. The Nkoveni Female being stocker and the Ximungwe more elegant, both gorgeous. The Nkoveni young male is such a lad! The Maxim ‘s male actually is a very large male, but I’ve always seen him more sociable to other leopards that were related to him. Do you know if there is any research about leopard females being righ-handed like cat females? I couldn’t find anything about it. I noticed she tends to hit by her right paw more frequently. Thanks for this awesome video!
She is a stunning leopardess. I think that when it comes to leopards that there is no side-dominance. They are such adaptive hunters and do not favour one side over the other. There are a few animals that are one side dominant, such as elephants, but I don’t think this applies to leopards. You might find she will now favour her right side more because of the injury to her left leg.
Hi Sean, this was an epic video of the Ximungwe female and the Maxim’s male mating. He is so much bigger than her and off course his genes will be showing in her cubs. How naughty is the Nkoveni young male, first not allowing his mother to eat, and now he is doing the same to his dad. Very aggressive young male I would say, but he is a stunning young leopard. I would be very pleased if Ximungwe falls pregnant and has a cub or two. I felt very sorry for her when she kept on calling for her cub and then realized he is not coming. So heartbreaking.
The Maxim’s Male is huge and so this will be some great genes to pass on should she conceive. The Nkoveni Young Male is growing to be a cheeky leopard, warding off his father from the carcass too.
Blimey! Talk about the Dance of the Seven Veils! He was hard work, wasn’t he.
He really was hard work and took a lot of convincing.
Interesting to observe their courtship behavior. Thanks Sean.
It was great to see it all from the very beginning. Such a process.
Such a great video Sean! The Ximungwe put so much effort into making him mate. Also very interesting the interaction between father and son. I still wonder how they know who is who
She had to put in som much effort. Thankfully, it all paid off in the end. I was intrigued by the young male’s confidence in not letting his father come feed.
What an absolutely epic virtual safari today Sean. Who knew the early stages of the mating process could be so fascinating, as you watched Ximungwe strategically move in ways to capture Maxim’s attention in the hopes he would move to mate with her. I was surprised it took him so long to recognize that she was ready to mate but even more surprising was that Nkoveni young male took advantage of Ximungwe’s absence and claimed her Impala kill whilst she was concentrating on enticing Maxim to mate, very close to the pair. Although Maxim knew the impala carcass was in the tree along with Nkoveni young male, I think he decided it wasn’t worth the confrontation. In order to ensure that her future cubs have a better chance of surviving, now she needs to find another male or two to mate with her.
It did take so long, but also maybe the Maxim’s Male wasn’t interested and so really needed to be convinced. Yes, she does need to find some other males to mate with.