Leopard Directory

[Ngala]

Credits to Londolozi Blog - Leopards of Londolozi.

Gowrie 2:2 Male

2005 - 2015

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Unique Markings: Orange eyes, scar next to single spot on his left cheek.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Gowrie male first appeared in the Sabi Sands around 2011, and was reportedly quite skittish. This makes it likely that he was born in the Kruger Park and grew up unused to vehicles. His dispersal into the private game reserve system as a young male meant he soon began being viewed regularly and began to relax around vehicles as a result. Judging by his size when he was first viewed, he is estimated to have been born around 2005/2006, although it is impossible to say for sure.

As he moved into the northern parts of Londolozi in 2012, he began putting pressure on the dominant and much older Marthly male, who was forced to retreat slowly, conceding territory all the time and eventually being forced south of the Sand River altogether. The Gowrie male’s arrival was ill-timed as far as the local female population was concerned, as the Tutlwa and Ximpalapala females were raising litters at the time, both of which were believed to have been killed by the Gowrie male.

The Gowrie male subsequently became dominant over the whole of Marthly, even being seen on the Southern bank of the river on a few occasions. Then, in mid-2015, sightings of him suddenly dried up. No tracks moved through the Manyelethi River and his territorial call was heard no more.

Eventually it was accepted that he was dead, through causes unknown. A part of a leopard’s lower jaw was found in the Manyelethi riverbed near Marthly Pools, but as the displaced Marthly male had been seen in the area only a few months previously, it remains unclear who the jaw belonged to.

Territory:
This male established himself as the dominant male in the north of Londolozi on the section known as Marthly. He would move between the northern bank of the Sand River, with its profileration of game, through the rocky sections of central Marthly and through the seasonal Manyelethi River to our northern boundary. His territory had many females falling within it; a major drawing factor for a dominant male leopard.

2012

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2013

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2014

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2015

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Other photo:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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