NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE
(Daughter of the Kapen
Female leopard)
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| September / October 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE (daughter of Kapen Female) * 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
August 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE *
3 YEARS 10 MONTHS The New Hogvaal Female was not seen at all in the August game report period. She might have been forced to go further east into the Kruger Park in order to have ready access to water and prey animals, as Eastern Flockfield is now without any surface water. July 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE *
3 YEARS 9 MONTHS After not being seen at all in June, the New Hogvaal Female showed up twice in July. On the first occasion she was on south-eastern Flockfield, which appears to be the heart of her territory. Then two weeks later she was seen at Kapen Open Area, which lies well within the territory of the Kapen Female. Indeed, her mother (the Kapen Female) was present at the same position, with two kills in a tree. The New Hogvaal Female watched proceedings from the ground, not more than 50 metres away, but was not seen to approach. It could be that she had moved out of her territory purely to go and drink from the Sand River, and had come across her mother with the kills while passing through. Typically, when a female leopard passes through another female’s territory for the purpose of having a drink, she will keep a low profile and will move on again. June 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE * 3 YEARS 8 MONTHS No confirmed sightings in June. May 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE * 3 YEARS 7 MONTHS There were just two sightings of the New Hogvaal Female leopard, and these were on successive days, both on north-eastern Charleston. She killed a steenbok in this area, and fed on the kill for two days. It is believed that most of her territory lies on eastern Flockfield, between the Kapen River and the Windmill. April 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE * 3 YEARS 6 MONTHS The three sightings of the New Hogvaal Female leopard were again all on Eastern Flockfield, where she now seems to have established a good-sized territory for herself. She was followed on the hunt on a couple of occasions, but with no kills being witnessed. Like the similar aged Kikilezi Female, there are no obvious signs of pregnancy. She has not been seen mating since her episode with the Hlarulini Male a few months ago, but on Eastern Flockfield she could encounter her father the Rockdrift Male, the Newington Male or perhaps even the Chellahanga Male. March 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE * 3 YEARS 5 MONTHS Location: EASTERN FLOCKFIELD In contrast to February, when the New Hogvaal Female was encountered on Western Flockfield, all sightings of her in March were on Eastern Flockfield. Perhaps she had come into contact with her mother on Western Flockfield, and been on the receiving end of a most hostile reception! There is certainly good space on eastern Flockfield, and the New Hogvaal Female could do well there, but she would find that prey species (impala in particular) would be much more scarce than in the areas closer to the Sand River and the lower reaches of its major tributaries. This would be especially true in the drier months. February 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE * 3 YEARS 4 MONTHS Location: WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (east of the Sand River) There were only two sightings of the New Hogvaal Female leopard, and these were just over 3 weeks apart. On the first occasion, she was on the move when found, and was followed for a fair distance before she went to sleep. On the second occasion, she was seen within a couple of hundred metres of where her older sister, the Jakkasdraai Female, and her cubs had been seen half an hour previously. The boundaries of the New Hogvaal Female’s territory are not yet clearly defined. January 2005 NEW HOGVAAL FEMALE (daughter of Kapen Female) * 3 YEARS 3 MONTHS Location: WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (east of the Sand River) The New Hogvaal Female leopard was seen to spend much time along the lower middle reaches of the Kapen River in January. Although not seen to come into contact with her mother, the Kapen Female, her movements would certainly be of concern to the older leopard, who now has a new litter. One thing is certain – the Kapen Female would be very much more hostile towards her daughter now than she would have been before her latest cubs were born.
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