We couldn’t believe our eyes either!
When the Hosana male leopard was found on top of a termite mound, and ranger Harlequin McQuail lifted his binoculars and saw a cub’s head pop up from behind him, he nearly fell out of his Land Rover.
The Hosana Male arrived in mid-2018 and is now dominant over Othawa, rarely seen on Londolozi's western boundary.
He really had to rub his eyes a few moments later when a second small head peered out from behind the same mound, but this time no spots were visible. Harley (a new ranger who just joined the team and was coincidentally on his first drive) was flabbergasted to see that it was a young lion cub, which for reasons we doubt it understood either, had chosen to associate with the Hosana male and the leopard cub he had with him.
First things first: Which leopard cub was it? Well, given the territory and the fact that we are led to believe that the Hosana male is incredibly friendly, it really could have been any cub, but the size and age-bracket narrows our choices down somewhat, and we suspect it may be one of the Ingrid Dam youngsters. Maybe it got separated from its mother and simply recognised a familiar spotted profile: long tail, rosettes, whiskers, what could possibly go wrong? It must have instinctively followed the Hosana male. Both leopards seemed in good spirits, so they’ll hopefully be lifelong friends.
The previous Ingrid Dam cub made a habit out of peering out from behind termite mounds, so we have no reason to suspect the current one wouldn’t do the same, whether with the Hosana male or not.
Secondly: the lion cub.
Shocker, we know!
We doubt something like this has ever happened in the wild before, but it kind of makes sense, since both species are of the Panthera genus, and if they split from a common ancestor once, who’s to say they can’t recombine down the line? Kind of a reverse-evolution inter-species reconciliation thing. The Ntsevu pride have so many cubs at the moment (12 and going strong), it would only be natural for the pride to feel the pinch of raising so many, and start outsourcing their care-taking. We’ve noticed a few of the adult lionesses being a bit short-tempered of late, so we can’t really blame them for this unorthodox approach.
If this cub grows up with a split-personality, hopefully it’ll have at least learnt to climb a bit better from its foster father.
Lion cubs: awkward climbers at best. Maybe the Hosana male can impart some wisdom.
The unlikely trio scuttled off the mound immediately after the cover photo was taken, so we sadly don’t have any further evidence of the once-in-a-lifetime sighting.
Ranger McQuail has been duly admonished for not providing further proof of what some believed were spurious claims, but since there is photoshopped… uh, we mean photographic… evidence, how can we possibly not believe him…?!
Ha ha 😆
Happy April Fools to you too!
I’m no April fool!
Great story!
Then I looked at the calendar: April 1st!!!
Excellent!
And a Happy April Fool’s day back to you! I hope you are pulling off some good pranks today at the reserve. Enjoy!!!
I have followed Hosana (son of Karula) on Safari Live for a few years now. The Little Prince is very social and loves to be with other leopards so the leopard cub is not surprising but the lion is!! Love that animal, hope to see him in person one day!
Ah, so I see that you have April 1 in your country as well! Very cute, James!
Michael
I have just read today’s story about the male leopard and two cubs, one leopard and one lion. I would normally challenge anything on your blog….but as a reasonably skilled photographer, I find the photo “not likely “ legit. I note all three faces are in near perfect focus, but the rocks separating the faces are blurred. No matter what fstop used associated depth of field I defy you to achieve this combination. If your experts in your photo shop can provide me a setting to create this image, I am always ready to learn more. I will be at at Londo in June for my fifth visit and enjoy discussing this. Ed
Hi Edward,
Haha we’ll see you in June. Our photoshopping does indeed need work…! 😉
Omg our Hosana. How I miss him. Not surprised at all with him finding some Cubs to spend time with especially how he always sought out companionship from his father Tingana. I miss you Hosana come home. It would be a dream if he would take over his daddy’s territory.
Hahahahahahaha, Great Fun Blog.. You tell Hosana that he is one special leopard and if any leopard could pull of this fantasy it would be him. Also tell him to stay safe and find a fantastic territory! Thanks for the update! LOL
Hahaha! I know what day it is! Happy ummm Monday! Cheers!
Tell me what day it is again?
Hahaha! Good one. Happy April Fools! 😂
So the caption for the photo reads “Hosana Fake 2.” Is this a practical joke? The photo looks like an April Fool’s joke, right??
Haha Stan you got us. I should’ve been more careful in my naming when exporting from Photoshop!
An April Fool’s posting, one presumes? Of course, with Hosana, who knows….lol.
They have internet tutorials on photoshop you know 😉
Hahaha Johanna I probably need to take a few…
A. The image better NOT be Photoshopped. B. If it is indeed Photographic evidence, to me it is a once in a lifetime sighting. Congratulation on being at the very right place at the very right time.
I believed it until the the split-personality part! April Fools!!
Hi Judith,
Haha yip the best pranks are the semi-credible.
The image almost looks photoshopped, it’s so weird! The juxtaposition of the 2 species is just not expected or explainable. Has Hosana decided to become everyone’s lovable uncle?!
Got me, big time!!! 🤣🤣🤣
Hi Mary Beth, yip, photoshop for the win!
Ha….my first reaction since today is April 1st and April Fools Day in America….that you were pulling our collective legs. Bring in Photoshop to polish off the spoof and stir in a pinch of gullibility and bake all day to see/hear the results. But on the other hand, all kind of magical things DO occur at Londolozi. So….my apologies if this wasn’t a prank…..😉
Hi Joanne,
Haha, very much an April Fool’s prank…
One can dream 🙂
Wish he had grabbed a shot but it doesn’t surprise me… have seen Hosana in lots of ‘not in the textbooks’ situations. Just hope momma lion doesn’t too angry.
the most amazing sighting at Djuma was when he was sitting on some Lapwing eggs once trying to give the momma Lapwing a break. Touche’
OK there is something called April Fools day here in the United States, which happens to be TODAY. You fool someone, and they usually fall for it. Is this story really true???? If so, I can not believe it! Oh my, what a smile this brought on my face either way:)
If you had added one more they could have played the Bremer Town Musicians 😀
We’ll push for the quartet next year… 😉
Looks like someone is developing serious Photoshop skills. But if you want to hear about a lion cub being raised by a leopardess with her cub, ask JV about it. Fascinating story!
I heard they were later seen feasting on flying pigs too?!
Happy April Fools Day
Nice try James! Your Photoshop skills have definitely improved! Great April Fools prank!
Tell me that this is an April Fool’s Post!!!
Do you have any flying Penguins at Londolozi? The BBC has discovered a new species of penguin that can fly. Each Winter they migrate to warmer climates. Just wondered if any had been seen at Londolozi…
Hee hee April Fools! But I will say I almost believed this of Hosana. For a solitary species like leopard, he seems to love company (of his own kind anyway).
Jamo you had me with the title. Obviously the initial photo was an April Fools giveaway. I know the Hosana Male is relaxed but not this much! Very good indeed.
Hi Al,
Yip I need to work on my Photoshopping; should have got Roxy to do it instead!
Hilarious!
You had me at Harlequin McCquail…
Heh heh heh 😹
Hmmmmm- very funny and a good joke for April Fools Day. Photo shop work was quite evident 😘
Haha Denise we didn’t want to make it TOO believable!
Joke’s on us!
You know, guys, I’m getting just a little tired of lions and leopards – don’t you have some of those new Flying Penguins that the BBC have discovered? They fly South in Winter; maybe some will come to Londolozi.