There are some leopards you see often enough that they become part of the fabric of the reserve. Others remain elusive appearing only every now and then before disappearing back into the bush. The Mawelawela Male was certainly the latter.
The Mawelawela Male stares at us from a vantage point. His coat contrasts with the surrounding gabbro rocks behind him.
Born 2013, initially a fairly aggressive elusive male that has somewhat relaxed. Found in unconventional leopard territory of the grasslands
Mawelawela’s Passing
News of his passing has reached us recently, and it is difficult not to reflect on just how special some of those rare encounters with him were.
Born in 2013, the Mawelawela Male became a successful territorial male in the southwestern reaches of the Londolozi. His territory was somewhat unusual leopard habitat, consisting of large open grasslands where simply finding a leopard can be a challenge. A perfect example showcasing the adaptability of these incredible cats. He was a big, powerful male who seemed to carry himself with the confidence of an animal that had spent many years navigating the pressures of being territorial.
An Incredible Morning
I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of hours with him last year after Reece found him. It was one of those sightings that felt particularly special because of how rarely we saw him. He moved quietly through the grass, climbed onto some rocky formations and eventually settled into a vantage point. There was something about him. A presence that I to this day won’t forget.
Mawelawela male pauses as we left him walking away from us down the road
A Fierce Capable Male Leopard
Mawelawela had a reputation for being a leopard that commanded respect. He was not always particularly tolerant of vehicles and had been known to give the occasional growl even when we were some distance away. That confidence seemed fitting for a male who had spent years holding his own in a part of the reserve where competition was never far away.
Sadly, his story has now come to an end.
A rare sighting of the elusive Mawelawela Male as he scent-marked in the open grasslands before resting in top of a termite mound. This area has long grass and can be difficult to find this leopard.
How it Happened
Mawelawela was recently involved in an encounter with lions. To my knowledge, he had taken refuge in a tree while a group of lions remained below. At some point he attempted to leave the area, but the lions gave chase and caught him. Remarkably, he managed to fight them off and scramble back to safety in another tree. When the area was checked again a few days later, there were no fresh tracks and it became apparent that he had succumbed to the injuries sustained during the encounter. It is a brutal reminder of the reality faced by even the most capable leopards.
Mawelawela was more than twelve years old. He had survived years of territorial competition, found ways to hunt successfully in unusual habitat and held a large area for himself. Yet none of that makes a mature male leopard immune to the dangers that surround him.
Stares at us through the long grass
Lions remain one of the greatest threats to leopards, particularly when the two species compete for space or come across one another unexpectedly. For a leopard, a single encounter can be enough.
Enjoy Every Moment Out There
I find myself thinking back to that morning when he stared directly through my lens. At the time, I remember feeling incredibly fortunate to have finally spent some meaningful time with a leopard I had seen so rarely.
![Mawelawela Male Lying In Marula Tree [rcb] (2)](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/14141432/Mawelawela-Male-Lying-in-Marula-Tree-RCB-2-1598x1065.jpg)
Now, knowing that was one of our last encounters makes the memory feel even more significant. The bush does not give us guarantees. Animals that become familiar to us can disappear almost overnight and sometimes we only realise how important a sighting was once it has become a memory. Mawelawela was one of those leopards. A big old male who lived life on his own terms and remained elusive right until the end.
I am grateful we got to see him.
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