| June 2002 Location: N W CHARELSTON (west of the Sand River) (no confirmed sightings)
There have been no confirmed sightings of the Beaumonts Male for two months
now and the presence of another young but adult male leopard close to
the area usually controlled by this leopard hints perhaps that something
may have happened to him. May 2002 Location: N W CHARELSTON (west of the Sand River)
(no confirmed sightings) April 2002 BEAUMONTS MALE N W CHARELSTON
(west of the Sand River) (1sighting)
The only confirmed sighting of the Beaumonts Male was of him mating with
a relaxed female leopard, probably the same one which he was seen mating
with earlier in the year, the one which seems to have taken over the territory
from the Shaws Female. When seen the Beaumonts Male appeared to have an
infection in one of his eyes, but although obviously irritating him, this
did not appear serious. March 2002 Location: WESTERN CHARELSTON (4 sightings) This male leopard has been on the reserve for perhaps
a year now and is clearly in charge of the western parts of Charleston,
west of the Sand River. He may even venture onto the eastern bank of the
river, to the south and west of the area patrolled by the Rock Drift Male.
Noticeable features of the Beaumonts Male include a kink
in the lower 20 centimetres of so of his tail and a floppy left ear. February 2002 A young male leopard was seen on successive days and these
in the general area of the adult male leopard with the pronounced kink
in his lower tail. Sightings were on NW Charleston and on the last occasion
the larger male was chasing the younger male. This large male leopard,
with the bent twenty or so centimetres of his lower tail, was seen at
least five times this month and probably on one other occasion too, all
in the general area of western Charleston, west of the Sand River. January 2002 There were at least two sightings of the adult male leopard
with the noticeable kink in the lower 30 or so centimetres of his tail.
These sightings were on consecutive days, both in the same area of NW
Charleston to the west of the Sand River and both involving other leopards.
In the first instance, the male leopard was found sharing an impala kill
with an adult female leopard. Her identity was not determined and it was
probably not the Shaws Female, the female leopard which typically resides
in this area too. Once the impala carcass had been consumed, the leopards
descended from the tree and started mating. The following day the male
leopard was seen chasing another male leopard, this a younger animal which
had perhaps been attracted to the area by the female. The older male chased
off the younger male. December 2001 Two sightings of a male leopard on western Charleston,
west of the Sand River. One sighting was confirmed as being of the male
leopard with the prominent kink in the lower parts of his tail (one of
his ears also has a noticeable droop). There is a good chance that the
other leopard seen was also this animal. This particular leopard has relaxed
down considerably over the last few months, thanks to cautious viewing
principles, and is considered the male territorial to this area. November 2001 One sighting of the large male leopard which is though
to control western Charleston west of the Sand River; this leopard has
a prominent kink in the lower parts of his tail and is quite relaxed around
vehicles. October 2001 The large male leopard known to have set up territory
on the western bank of the Sand River on Charleston was seen at least
5 times and perhaps another 3 times as well, identification at these latter
sightings was not confirmed. A noticeable feature of this now very relaxed
male leopard is a kink in the tip of his tail. He was seen several times
over a period of 5 days at or close to the sight of where he had an adult
male bushbuck kill. September 2001 It is thought that a fairly relaxed adult male leopard
has moved onto the western parts of Charleston, west of the Sand River,
whilst another, more nervous animal, controls the area south of him and
also south of the southern range of the Rock Drift Male. The more relaxed
of the males has a noticeable kink in the lower reaches of his tail. Two
sightings of a male leopard the eastern bank of the Sand River close to
the watercourse on Charleston were probably of this leopard. The Rock
Drift Male would technically control this area but for a 'new' leopard
in the area, exploration with the aim of expansion would be normal.
MalaMala
Game Reserve, PO Box 55514, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.
Telephone:
+ 27 11 442 2267 or 0861 SAFARI.
Facsimile: + 27 11 442 2318
e-Mail: reservations@malamala.com;
e-Mail: webmaster
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