December 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON
(8 sightings)

The Chellahanga Male was seen to have a rather uneventful month. Initially he was seen in the southern parts of the reserve, close to the Sand River. This is an area where he has been seen with increasing regularity over the previous few months. However the following day he was seen moving east from Martial Loop, close to the Charleston Flockfield Boundary. The Hlarulini Male has been seen as far north as the Charleston Flockfield Boundary (and even further north) but never as far to the east as Martial Loop. Perhaps the Chellahanga Male is looking to expand his territory into this area. Then the next day he was seen in the very far south of the reserve, close to Sands End. Thus in three days he covered a massive area over Charleston and Toulon. Towards the end of the month, he was seen near Charleston River Rocks – an area that would be considered the domain of the Hlarulini Male. Later in the report period this male leopard was seen feeding on the carcass of a young impala, close to Ingwe Donga.

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November 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON
(9 sightings)

Aside from his scuffle with the Hlarulini Male, the Chellahanga Male enjoyed a successful, if otherwise uneventful month. He seems to prefer the areas on either side of the Sand River, in the south-eastern corner of Mala Mala, as it was in these areas where he was seen during the game report period. It would appear that he has this area well under his control, and only experiences conflict with the Hlarulini Male in the northern extent of his territory. Still a relatively young leopard, the Chellahanga male was seen to hunt several times during the day, but no successful kills were witnessed. This is often the case with younger leopards, which prefer to hunt during the daylight hours, while lions and other leopards are idle.

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October 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON
(14 sightings)

The Chellahanga Male had another excellent month and was the most frequently seen male leopard in the south of the reserve. The month started off on a challenging note for this leopard when he and the Hlarulini Male clashed on the northern bank of the Sand River. The leopards growled a lot at each other, and although the Hlarulini Male returned to this area frequently the Chellahanga Male was only seen on three more occasions there. The Chellahanga Male did however cross into Charleston on at least one occasion, into areas that the Hlarulini Male would consider to be his. Once again the Chellahanga Male ate very well in October, being found on a number of kills. He also appropriated at least three kills from other leopards, on one occasion he was seen in an area where an unidentified male leopard had a kill and seemed to claim it for himself. It could not be determined which leopard the male leopard was, but it is unlikely that it was the Hlarulini Male. But the most significant event in October was of him mating with the Rollercoaster Female. He certainly seems to be popular with the female leopards that constantly chose him over the Hlarulini Male. The Rollercoaster Female mated with the male leopard over a number of days, and they even shared a bushbuck kill over this period. All in all a good month for the Chellahanga Male who has a firm grasp over most of Toulon.

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September 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
(11sightings)

Once again the Chellahanga Male provided some excellent viewing in the south of the reserve and was the most frequently seen male leopard there. The month started off with this male leopard once again found mating with the Jakkalsdraai Female. The leopards mated for a four-day period before going their separate ways. The next sighting of this leopard was of him near Lion Crossing with the remains of a zebra foul in a tree. The following day the Charleston Pride arrived and stole the kill from the leopard, but not before he had had his full. The next few sightings of this leopard were of him around the Rocky Crossing area, which has been hotly contested between him and the Hlarulini Male in recent times. However the two leopards, although seen on either bank on the same day, did not come together and they seem to have finally sorted out there boundaries. Then mid month he was back at it with the Jakkalsdraai Female, who were found together mating. Four days later the leopards were seen again together, and although no mating was witnessed, it seems likely that they had been together mating over this four-day period. One wonders whether this male leopard is in fact sterile, as he can not seem to impregnate the Jakkalsdraai Female. All seems well with the Chellahanga Male who seems in total control of Toulon south of the Sand River.

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August 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON

(19 sightings)

The Chellahanga Male was the most frequently seen male leopard on Mala Mala. He put in a very strong appearance in the south of the reserve but was not seen to mate with any females during the report period. Most sightings of this male leopard were of a territorial male doing what they do best, patrolling territory and hunting for food. The energy requirement of these leopards is exceptionally high as they often move over large distances to ensure that their boundaries are reaffirmed and that no other males are invading their space. But perhaps the most significant sighting of the Chellahanga Male was of his long running feud with the Hlarulini Male. The two leopards were seen on the northern bank of the Sand River in one another’s company on three different occasions. No physical contact was witnessed, but the two leopards growled and scent marked vigorously to reaffirm their boundaries. It is always very difficult to tell who is the ultimate victor in these battles but it would seem that perhaps the Chellahanga Male came out on top as some of this interaction was in areas that would be considered prime Hlarulini Male territory.

Photographed by ranger Sheldon Williams

Other sightings of the Chellahanga Male were of him with a bushbuck kill, and five days later with an impala kill, all in the same general area.

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July 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

TOULON , CHARLESTON

(5 sightings)

As with last month, sightings of the Chellahanga Male were all centred on northern Toulon and southern Charleston , and were mainly of this dominant male leopard on territorial patrols. This is an area that seems to be hotly contested between him and the Hlarulini Male, who was also very active in this area. However, no confrontations were seen to occur between these two leopards this month. On one occasion the Chellahanga Male was followed whilst hunting kudu but was not seen to have any success whilst viewed. The Chellahanga Male seems none the worse after last month’s fight with the Hlarulini Male. He was seen north of the Sand river on two occasions, but did not venture into the upper reaches of the Chellahanga as he had in previous months.

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June 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON

(11 sightings)

The Chellahanga Male had a very interesting month, and provided some excellent viewing. Probably the most significant event that happened this month with the Chellahanga Male was his ongoing feud with the Hlaralini Male. On three occasions these two males were found together, and on all occasions they came to blows with each other. The first sighting was of him in the upper reaches of the Chellahanga itself, an area considered to be out of his usual range. He was escorted back to familiar ground by the Hlaralini Male, who gave him a good beating in the process. Then a few days later he was seen south of the Sand River , an area he would consider more his own. Again he came to blows with the larger Hlaralini Male. This went on for two days, the leopards fighting and putting on dominant displays in front of one another. The Chellahanga Male eventually left the area, but certainly held his own once south of the river and inflicted some nasty gashes to the face of the Hlaralini Male. One other occasion had him on the northern bank of the Sand River . On this occasion he had the Jakkalsdraai Female high up in a tree. The male, who had been mating with this female over the past few months, showed a lot of aggression towards the female and would not let her down the tree. But the Chellahanga Male had a good month and certainly has most of Toulon under his control.

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May 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON

(6 sightings)

Sightings of the Chellahanga Male in May were not as frequent as they might have been in previous months, but his presence on Toulon is still very strong. Sightings of the Chellahanga Male were all on Toulon , and it would seem that this area is certainly under his control. After his loss to the Hlarulini Male last month over a dispute for land near the Sand River on northern Toulon , the Chellahanga Male kept to himself, and the only leopard interaction witnessed was with him and female leopards. Once again in the early parts of this report period he was seen to be mating with the Jakkalsdraai Female, this over a period of a few days and deep in Toulon, an area that is way out of Jakkalsdraai Female territory. Some very good viewing was had of this seldom seen behaviour amongst these secretive cats. Then a few days later the Chellahanga Male was seen on Toulon scent marking and advertising his presence, not far from where the mating had been taking place. This was the last sighting of the Chellahanga Male for this report period. He was not seen again, but this is certainly not an indication of his absence from Toulon and he was probably more active that what these six sightings suggest.

Chellahanga Male - Photographed by ranger Ryan Beeton

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April 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON

(10 sightings)

Despite his loss to the Hlarulini Male, the Chellahanga Male had a good month and was also seen mating with the Jakkalsdraai Female shortly after she had mated with the Hlarulini Male. While his quest for territory on Charleston may have been quelled by the Hlarulini Male, the Chellahanga Male is still unrivalled on Toulon . Towards the end of the game report period, the Chellahanga Male was also seen mating with the Rollercoaster Female on eastern Toulon . Thus, the outlook is still bright for this up and coming leopard.

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March 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON

(9 sightings)

The Chellahanga Male may have to contend with a resurgent Hlarulini Male in the next few months following the altercations on the Charleston/Toulon boundary. Despite this, the Chellahanga Male does seem to have firm control of the deep south and should continue to dominate proceedings on Toulon and southern Charleston . He was again seen in the presence of the Jakkalsdraai Female early in the game report period, but no mating was observed.

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February 2006

CHELLAHANGA MALE

Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON

(10 sightings)

This male leopard continues his dominance of the south-eastern regions of Mala Mala, especially with respect to mating. His success in territorial skirmishes with the Hlarulini Male in the southern parts of Charleston and most of Toulon has consolidated his territory and he has reaped the reproductive rewards. His coupling with the Jakkalsdraai female has continued from Christmas and it is probable that he will sire most of the leopard cubs in the south of Mala Mala in the months to come.

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January 2006