BICYCLE CROSSING MALE
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Bicycle Crossing Male - Photograph by ranger Wesley Neumann
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| December 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD The report period commenced well when the Bicycle Crossing male leopard was found on the western bank of the Sand River, not far south of West Street Bridge, in an area that rangers and trackers commonly refer to as Flockfield Camp. The male leopard was in a Sausage tree where he has been seen on several occasions prior to this. He was feeding on an adult female impala, and there was still a substantial amount of meat left on the carcass. He fed for some time and then moved down to the river to quench his thirst. Thereafter the Bicycle Crossing Male provided some fine viewing when he was involved in a confrontation with the Newington Male in the Sand River close to West Street. The leopards did not come to blows but there was much growling and snarling. The Bicycle Crossing Male eventually moved off westwards.
One interesting sighting was when the Bicycle Crossing Male was found in the Sand River, close to West Steet Bridge. It was noticed that he was smelling the ground and scent marking in the exact area where the Manyelethi Male had been sleeping that morning. He then moved westwards, apparently on the scent of the Manyelethi Male. He was lost going north and west through the reeds, no doubt still in pursuit of his territorial adversary in that area.
During the second week of December, the Bicycle Crossing Male and Ngoboswan Female were found mating at Princess Alice Pans, and then moved east towards West Street, the female pursuing the male with great enthusiasm. That afternoon they were found mating in the Sand River to the north of West Street Bridge, and then they moved back westwards in the direction from which they had come that morning. November 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD The Bicycle Crossing Male had a good month and as usual provided some excellent viewing. The month started off well for the Bicycle Crossing Male when he was found mating with a slightly nervous leopard at the Mala Mala Bridge. The following day he was found mating again with the old female leopard that he mated with last month. He is very focused when it comes to mating, and was not deterred when he and the female leopard stumbled upon the Styx Pride feeding on a buffalo. On both instances he simply bypassed the lions, and broke away from his feud with the Newington Male to take up his mating duties once again.
The Bicycle Crossing Male also took advantage of the plentiful impala lambs, killing at least two during the month. The month ended well for this leopard when he was found with an adult impala kill. The leopard had been looking very thin the previous day and he wasted no time in devouring the impala. The Bicycle Crossing Male seems to be expanding his territory south towards the Kapen River, being seen on one occasion in this area. A young leopard requires lots of energy if he is to ensure that his territory is secure, but this leopard certainly did not go hungry in November, and December should provide further fine viewing from this leopard.
October 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD The Bicycle Crossing Male had a great month. The story of the month for the Bicycle Crossing Male was of him interacting with the female leopards within his territory. The first of these sightings was at the start of the report period when he was found with the Ngoboswan Female near Rattrays Camp. The male leopard had just appropriated an impala kill from the leopard, and fed on it in thick reeds at his own leisure. The female leopard called softly all this time, evidently calling her cub, but the cub was not seen. Just what this leopard would have done if he had seen her cub is unclear as it is not known who the father of the cub is.
The Bicycle Crossing Male still put in a strong presence near the Mala Mala Bridge, in the area that he and the Newington Male clashed in last month, but no clashes were witnessed. This was more to do with the Newington Male needing to patrol the other parts of his territory, but neither leopards seem to be backing down. The other highlight of the month for the Bicycle Crossing Male was of him mating with the old female leopard that he mated with a number of months ago. They were seen mating over a two-day period mid month. On the last day of the report period these two leopards were again found near the Bridge on a female impala kill. Both leopards fed from the kill whilst hyenas waited at the bottom of the tree. No mating was witnessed on this occasion but undoubtedly the leopards were mating, and November should provide some more fine viewing from this leopard.
September 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD The Bicycle Crossing Male had a challenging month. He was involved in no less than six encounters with the Newington Male over territorial issues on the eastern bank of the Sand River between the Mala Mala Bridge and Rattrays Camp. As the map illustrates, both he and the Newington Male spent a lot of time on the river between these positions, each trying his best to maintain a hold of this sought after river frontage. On their second meeting the two leopards spent three days in the same area, neither willing to give ground to the other. No physical contact was witnessed, and none is assumed to have occurred, but both leopards were very vocal and patrolled metres apart in a show of strength and dominance. During the early exchanges the larger and more experienced Newington Male seemed to have the upper hand. The Bicycle Crossing Male was however the more vocal of the two and roared more frequently.
Then on their second to last encounter, which was just to the south of the Mala Mala Bridge, the Bicycle Crossing Male seemed to have a minor victory. The Newington Male seemed to purposefully divert out of the path of the Bicycle Crossing Male after the two could be heard roaring at each other. This could only be good for the confidence of this young male leopard. The last day of the report period found the two clashing again near the Mala Mala Bridge and this time neither leopard seemed to want to give way. Besides these frequent encounters with his neighbour the Bicycle Crossing Male was seen in the Kapen River which is as far south as he has ventured to date. This would be considered to be both Newington Male and Hlarulini Male territory. However the Bicycle Crossing Male is still a relatively young leopard who does not lack any confidence and seems to want to expand his territory. One thing for certain is that he has the western bank of the Sand River between the Mala Mala Airstrip and Rattrays Camp firmly under his control. More exciting viewing can be expected from this eager young male leopard at Mala Mala in the months to come. August 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (15 sightings) The Bicycle Crossing Male again provided some fine viewing and as usual was frequently encountered. As the map illustrates he was long overdue a run-in with the other males that neighbour his territory and August was certainly the month for that. The month started off well for the Bicycle Crossing Male as he was seen patrolling the eastern bank of the Sand River between the confluence of the Matshapiri and the Sand Rivers and Wildebeest Crossing. However the inevitable occurred when he met the Newington Male at the Mala Mala Bridge.
The Newington Male certainly seemed to have the upper hand, whilst the Bicycle Crossing Male returned to the western bank roaring at the Newington Male on the eastern bank. Then a few days later he was found on the eastern bank opposite Rattrays with a female impala kill in a tree. However the leopard could only feed on his kill for a day before the Eyrefield Pride discovered him and climbed the tree and appropriated his kill. A few days later he and the Manyelethi Male met just north of the Mala Mala Bridge. On this occasion the Bicycle Crossing Male seemed to have the upper hand, as the Manyelethi Male turned around and went northwards. However this was not the last run-in the Bicycle Crossing Male had with his neighbours as he and the Newington Male met a second time again close to the Mala Mala Bridge. The Newington Male seemed content that the Bicycle Crossing Male was on the western bank and moved downstream.
The Bicycle Crossing Male roared throughout the encounter, and even crossed over the river once the Newington Male was out of sight and scent marked on the eastern bank. A testing time for this young territorial leopard and it would seem that this area around the Mala Mala bridge will be contested again in the future as all three of these large male leopards seem to want to claim it as their own.
July 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (12 sightings)
The Bicycle Crossing Male was seen frequently again during July. All sightings indicate that all is well with this striking leopard. He is perhaps feeling the pressure from the Manyelethi Male to his north, as both leopards were very active in the same area during the report period, and must certainly be aware of one another. The Bicycle Crossing Male was also seen to venture further south than what is usually the case, into an area which would be considered a ‘grey zone’ between him and the Newington Male. Towards the end of the report period the Bicycle Crossing Male provided some fine viewing when he was seen to catch and kill a duiker.
June 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (15 sightings) The Bicycle Crossing Male had another great month and was seen often and is firmly in control of the western bank of the Sand River between the Main Camp and Rattrays. But perhaps the most telling sign of his dominance is that he was seen mating with at least two female leopards in this report period. There is lots of speculation as to who the first female leopard was, this being the same one as he mated with the previous month. Identified firstly as the Dudley Female, ID pictures show that she is a very old leopard and is more than likely not the Dudley Female.
The second leopard he mated with was the nervous female, this on the very last day of this report period. One of the best sightings of this leopard was of him and the unidentified female leopard being sent up a tree by the Styx Pride. When he descended he abandoned the female, stalked a herd of impala, but missed, and then stalked the large herd of buffalo that were in the area. He got within metres of a young calf before being spotted ands chased away. So all bodes well for the Bicycle Crossing Male and he certainly looks set to be around for some time.
May 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALAMALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (7 sightings) The Bicycle Crossing Male leopard provided some very fine viewing when seen during May. This large attractive leopard made his presence felt on the western bank of the Sand River between Rattray’s Camp and the Main Camp, and would seem to have this area well under his control. Interestingly he also crossed onto the eastern bank of the Sand River , sometimes using the MalaMala Bridge itself to get over the Sand River , and scent marked and advertised his presence along the eastern bank as well. (This is an area thought to be under the control of the Newington Male, who know each other well from past skirmishes over land already.) In any case the Bicycle Crossing Male did what any young territorial male leopard must do, scent mark and hunt for food.
He was seen to hunt impala on many different occasions, mostly at around sunset, but with no success. On one occasion he was found watching the Styx Pride which was feeding on a white rhino carcass in the heart of his territory, but was not seen to approach the carcass whilst the lions were feeding. But perhaps the most interesting sighting of the Bicycle Crossing Male in May was that of him mating with the Dudley Female on the 2nd of the month. It is interesting that the Dudley Female, a wise old leopard, chose the young and upcoming Bicycle Crossing Male as a mate as she would almost certainly have encountered the Hlarulini Male in her territory as well. So all in all the Bicycle Crossing Male had a very good month, the certainly is not shy to roar and let other leopards know that he is around, and all bodes well for this leopard in the months ahead.
April 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALA MALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (3 sightings) The Bicycle Crossing Male was seen only three times this month, twice mating with the Dudley Female. On the third occasion, the Bicycle Crossing Male was found feeding on an impala kill just north of Flockfield Tower . Later that day, the Ngoboswan Female arrived at the kill and scavenged off the kill. However, the Bicycle Crossing Male was not intent on sharing and chased the female leopard away. Reports from adjacent properties suggest that the Bicycle Crossing Male has established himself on the western bank of the Sand River south of Rattrays Camp. Hopefully, more of this popular leopard will be seen in the future as he looks to expand his existing territory. March 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: SOUTH-WESTERN MALA MALA, NORTH-WESTERN FLOCKFIELD (8 sightings) After not having been seen since November 2005, the Bicycle Crossing male returned looking bigger and more determined to stake a claim on western Mala Mala. He was seen mainly around the vicinity of West Street Bridge , scent marking vigorously and even ventured as far south as Dudley Lookout, while incidentally the Hlarulini Male was patrolling the Kapen Open Area not far away. The two leopards did not detect each other and no confrontation was observed. His scent marking efforts seemed to pay off as he was seen mating with the Ngoboswan Female on two consecutive days in the vicinity of Flockfield Tower and Bushbuck Drive . The noisy mating pair attracted the attention of the Eyrefield pride close by and the leopards had to move quickly to avoid the lions, but when out of danger continued with their mating activities.
January / February 2006 BICYCLE CROSSING MALE Location: NORTH-WESTERN MALA MALA (0 sightings) Copyright © Rattray Reserves |
