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Leopards of Sabi Sands - Printable Version

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RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-02-2018

Credits to Pete Thorpe - Londolozi.

Leopard Kisses Buffalo: Unbelievable!:

As we approached a herd of 80+ African Buffalo, tracker Bennet Mathonsi shouted, “Leopard! Leopard!”.


Next to the buffalo? Surely not…

He was right though. A young male leopard was a mere 10 metres from our game viewer and only about 30 metres from the front line of the herd, most of which were still lying down from their night of rest. The leopard dropped into its shoulders, disappearing into the long grass, and began a stealthy approach on the buffalo herd. It was trying to hunt!

*This image is copyright of its original author

A bit ambitious, one might say?

We thought so too. A leopard of this size, probably weighing in at around 40-50 kg is no match for an adult buffalo of 700-800 kg. It was most likely after a calf, of which we spotted only one out of the herd of 80+ adults. The young leopard blew its cover as it moved in too fast. Four or five massive buffalos trotted straight towards the leopard to assess the threat. The young male realised the situation it had just walked into was imminently hazardous to its health, and made a very hasty retreat to a fallen over knobthorn tree; the only one for quite some distance in the open grasslands. Luckily for the leopard, the tree was just above head height for the buffalos, allowing for a relatively safe place of refuge.


*This image is copyright of its original author

Not for long though, as soon the leopard was surrounded by about 40 sets of horns, all slashing up and down trying to reach it.


He scuttled to the highest branches, out of reach of the large herd, and began to wait it out. After about half an hour, a few buffalo bulls were still milling about under the spotted cat, while the bulk of the herd was starting to lose interest.

The leopard seemed to become a bit impatient, or curious; one can’t be sure. Bravely (or foolishly), it started to reach down with its front paw, towards one particular bull that was trying to sniff at it. This brought back memories of when our domestic cat at home would jump onto an elevated platform to get away from the house dog, and swat at its face with outstretched claws to try and drive it away. Not quite the same size of animals but similar behaviour from the cat!

*This image is copyright of its original author

Amazingly, as the buffalo reached as high as it could to sniff the leopard, the leopard pulled its paw back and leant forward. The faces of the buffalo and leopard drew closer and closer until their noses actually touched! We couldn’t believe our eyes… Both animals seemed a bit startled and pulled away from each other hastily.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Eventually the leopard decided to take a gap. It ran down to the lower part of the tree, hissed at the herd and jumped away from them, sprinting into the cover of the long grass unscathed.

*This image is copyright of its original author

A quick snarl at the buffalo to tell them to keep their distance.

*This image is copyright of its original author

And a leap to safety as a gap opens up. One can see all the oxpeckers erupting off the buffalo behind the trunk, as the herd was obviously started by the leopard’s sudden movements.

*This image is copyright of its original author

This young male will most likely think twice before attempting to hunt buffalo again. At Londolozi, adult male leopards have successfully killed buffalo calves amongst a herd in the past. However, adult lions have been killed when trying to pick buffalo out of a herd, which highlights the ability and willingness of buffalo to defend their youngsters from these predators.

Video filmed by Bennet Mathonsi






RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-03-2018

Credits to Jess Fensham.

Dayone vs Ravenscourt. Ravenscourt is the one in the back that jumps on Dayone.

Click on it to play.






RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-03-2018

Credits to Johan de la Rey - Leopard Hills.

Dayone finding a good vantage point in the river after his encounter with Ravenscourt.

*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-04-2018

[attachment=1242]
[attachment=1241]
Hosana Male Leopard was seen this afternoon (April 4th 2018) with his (possible) father Tingana, who is enjoying a retirement, according to the Djuma guides, on Chitwa Chitwa lodge, as a new male Hukumuri has been taking over Tingana's territory.
Hosana occasionally follows his father around, and has been seen following his older sister Thandi before.
Photo credits to SafariLive (WildEarth) *screen shots*


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-05-2018

Credits to Stuart Buy - Leopard Hills.

Some photos of the interaction between Ravenscourt and Dayone.

*This image is copyright of its original author


*This image is copyright of its original author


*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-09-2018

Credits to Francois Roisslee - Sabi Sabi.

The dominant male leopard of the area decided to roll around in some buffalo dung before stalking some impala.

*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-09-2018

[attachment=1247]
Photo Credits to Heinrich Neumeyer

This is Hukumuri male leopard. He is a funny character; one of his ears is floppy, he has a really long tongue, and one toe on his paw is extra long making his paw prints easy to track for the Djuma trackers. His name means chicken medicine, and he is taking over a large territory from Tingana and has been in a fight with Anderson male, nothing too bad tho.
He has mated twice with the young and beautiful Xidulu female, however she has had no sign of pregnancy.
He might have killed Shadow and her daughter, neither have been seen for a long time, but no ranger or guide is a 100% sure it was him.

Mr. Neumeyer has said upon taking that photo "It was Hukumuri, the colossal new male leopard in the Northern Sabi Sands block."

But he really is not that big according to all the other guides that view him on regular bases. Many have said that he is stocky and muscular, but not as big as old man Tingana.
Here is a image of Tingana to compare, credits to Scott Dyson.
[attachment=1248]

In any case, neither male is near the actual colossal size of Anderson or the Camp Pan male.
But Chicken Medicine is good news for north of Sabi Sands, and Xidulu, because he brings in new genetics... and character!


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-10-2018

Credits to Gert Smit - Elephant Plains.

Anderson male.

*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-11-2018

Credits to Nick Kleer - Londolozi.

The Anderson male moments after a mating session with the Nanga female.

*This image is copyright of its original author



RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-11-2018

(04-11-2018, 03:09 AM)Tshokwane Wrote: Credits to Nick Kleer - Londolozi.

The Anderson male moments after a mating session with the Nanga female.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Woah what a regal brute he is...


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-12-2018

[attachment=1249]

Credits to PJD Photography. 

Xivambalana Male Leopard. Karula’s son. 
His sister Xivindzi either moved off into Kruger or drowned in 2012.


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - Tshokwane - 04-12-2018

Credits to Steve Faulconbridge - SafariLive.

Cat Report: 31 March - 6 April

Hosana, the little chief, continues his movements crossing back and forth between

Djuma, Torchwood and Chitwa Chitwa. A possible cautionary play so as to avoid the
new male around Djuma, Hukumuri and other larger males to the South and East? Who
knows, however, he looks settled in these areas, following similar pathways to his
father, the Duke of Djuma, Tingana. Both cats having been seen together behind
Chitwa Dam, the older cat exerting his dominance merely through posturing. This is
not the first time, and I doubt it will be the last.

Tingana has been moving between Djuma and Chitwa in a similar fashion, not
roaming too far, spending his days in and around Chitwa lodge itself. Possibly a
cautionary play for the old Duke? Does he perhaps have another trick up his sleeve,
or has he taken his retirement to heart, set not to patrol his old lands or defend his
lineage? We have not seen this mighty leopard on a kill in some time. He has,
however, visited the the elephant carcass on more than one occasion, paying no
heed to the feeding hyena.

The Xidulu female seems set to claim a territory within Djuma, she was caught up in
a physical territorial dispute with another female leopard. The case is still open as to
who it may have been, as both Thandi and Shadow’s names were used in
describing the sighting. Nonetheless, amidst the blood and fur that covered the road
after the skirmish a new debutant to Djuma emerged onto the scene, sending the two
females scattering. The following morning Tristan got a very quick glimpse of Xidulu
as she nearly tackled a jackal before scampering off west into Simbambili.
A new young male entered the scene from the north amidst the aforementioned
territorial encounter between Thandi or was it Shadow and Xidulu? This new male
identified as Kwatile, meaning angry, originates from Ngala to the north. Kwatile is
easily recognized by his small stature - his size does not fit his apparent 4 years of
age. Does this small male pose any threat to the power of Hukumuri and is he
looking to stake a claim to the old Dukes territory? This very exciting new male did
not show any signs of scent marking, and did not remain for long. After a failed
attempt at a young warthog he moved off west into the sunset.
Hukumuri, whose eyes stir fear in the hearts of many, is likely responsible for the
movement and current dynamics within Djuma. This male leopard continues to roam
unchallenged, scent marking all the way through Djuma and beyond staking his
Claim.

 Tracks of a leopard cub have been found,
and we wait with bated breath these coming days for signs of Tlalamba.
Thandi was found patrolling the southern boundary of Djuma, walking with much
purpose and determination, scent marking where Hukumuri has left his mark. A
possible indication that her cub is no more? We are not sure, Tlalamba has not been
seen in a few weeks. Thandi’s efforts are either one of defiance against the incursion
by this new male or may be as a result of her coming into oestrus? However, her efforts may in
fact be as a result of the activity of the young Xidulu female, although the truth of that
altercation have yet to surface. Thandi does not appear injured in anyway which one
would expect after a physical altercation.


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-12-2018

Thandi and cub on Djuma dam this past morning!! (Previously guides and trackers had thought she lost the cub)


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-12-2018

[attachment=1253] 
 PC to Tusk Photograhy 
Shadow... and cub. Thought lost in a fight with Hukumuri...
Shadow was Mvula’s daughter. 
The old man is presumed dead as well but from old age. 
Here’s another one of Shadow 
[attachment=1255]
PC fotoart de chalain


RE: Leopards of Sabi Sands - ShakaMapogo - 04-13-2018

[attachment=1260]

Kunyuma Male, also known as Senegal Bush in Mala Mala 
Mvula’s offspring (and of course Karula’s) 

PC Andrew Dankwerts