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December 2003
HLABATINI
FEMALE Location:
NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(no
sightings this month)
November 2003 HLABATINI
FEMALE Location:
NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(1
sighting) The
single sighting of the Hlabatini Female was towards the northwestern parts
of Eyrefield, the territory she is now thought to occupy, having probably
been forced here by both the White Cloth Female and the Campbell Koppies
Female. When
found, the Hlabatini Female was quite lean and it was difficult to tell
whether she was still lactating or not. Two months ago when this leopard
was last seen, she was lactating heavily and indications were that whatever
cubs she had had were still very small. Soon
after she had been found this month, the Hlabatini Female killed a bushbuck
and dragged the carcass beneath a fallen tree in a steep-sided gully,
hiding it from scavengers. And this was the last of the Hlabatini Female
sightings for November; in spite of visiting the scene of the kill on
subsequent days and finding the carcass where it had been hidden, there
was no sign of the leopard. One hopes that her absence was due to her
returning to suckle her cub(s).
October 2003 HLABATINI
FEMALE Location:
NE EYREFIELD (no
sightings)
September 2003 HLABATINI
FEMALE Location:
NE EYREFIELD (1
sighting)
After
writing off the Hlabatini Female and considering her dead and gone, the
old leopard reappeared and, not only did she look healthy, but was lactating
as well. This sighting was towards the upper parts of the Mlowathi River,
an area where the Hlabatini Female has certainly been seen before.  
With
the White Cloth Female now occupying much of the Hlabatini Females' old
haunts along the middle and upper parts of the Matshapiri River and the
Campbell Koppies Female working those regions which used to be her southwesterly
areas, the Hlabatini Female is probably mostly in the northern parts of
the reserve, an area perhaps not covered by gamedrive vehicles as often
as other regions. And, being a leopard not always completely at home
with landrovers, she will often choose to remain hidden. Whatever
cubs the Hlabatini Female has must be less than three-months-old. When
found, she had a duiker kill in a tree and was not seen to fetch the youngsters
to share the food. One
wonders whether the Newington Male, the leopard with which she mated towards
the end of last year, is the father of her cubs.
May - August 2003 HLABATINI
FEMALE Location:
NORTH-CENTRAL EYREFIELD (no
sightings) There
have been no encounters with the Hlabatini Female for at least a couple
of months now and indications are that her southern neighbour, the White
Cloth Female, is pushing further and further into her territory. Is the
Hlabatini Female still around?
April 2003 HLABATINI
FEMALE Location: NORTH-CENTRAL EYREFIELD   
(3 sightings)
Sightings of
the Hlabatini Female, the first in two months, showed a leopard in good
health and apparently in control of her territory. There was no sign
that she was lactating. On at least two of the three encounters with
her during April, she was seen stalking antelopes, but on both occasions
failed to catch one.
March 2003 Location;
NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(no sightings)
February 2003 Location;
NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(no sightings)
January 2003 Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD (2 sightings) The Hlabatini Female was seen twice this
month, both times towards the very northern parts of her territory. Perhaps
pressure from both the White Cloth Female and the Campbell Koppies Female
has caused her to move north. There was no sign that she is pregnant,
this following her mating with the Newington Male in early November. At
one of the sightings of the Hlabatini Female, she was seen approaching
a young male leopard busy feeding on the carcass of an adult zebra which
appeared to have died of natural causes. The Hlabatini Female did not
seem interested in the meat and in fact did not approach too closely to
the other leopard. Instead she growled loudly and roared on a few occasions
too before moving off, probably simply a warning to this young male that
he should stay away.
December 2002 HLABATINI FEMALE Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD/ NE MALA MALA No sightings this month
November 2002 HLABATINI FEMALE Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD/ NE MALA MALA    (2 sightings)
The most notable of the two sightings of the Hlabatini Female this month
occurred in early November and was of her mating with the Newington Male.
The Newington Male has recently taken over from the Tlebe Rocks Male as
the dominant male leopard of the northern parts of Mala Mala. Included
in this area is the Hlabatini Female. Should this mating have been successful,
then cubs could be expected towards the end of February next year.
October 2002
HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 25 MONTHS Location:
NW EYREFIELD
(1 confirmed sighting of the female) The
Hlabatini Female was seen only once this month, this towards the upper
reaches of the Mlowathi River, an area considered to be at the very edge
of her territory. Perhaps the fact that she is trying to avoid her two-year-old
son in a bid to force him to become independent and also maybe because
of the serious male leopard dynamics which are occurring within her territory
now that her old mate, the Tlebe Rocks Male, has gone, have been the reasons
for the Hlabatini Female to lie low over the last few months. Hopefully
once things have settled somewhat, the Hlabatini Female will be seen more
regularly again.
September 2002 HLABATINI
FEMALE
1 MALE
CUB * 24 MONTHS Location:
CENTRAL EYREFIELD (no
confirmed sighting of the female or her son) The
Hlabatini Female has vanished; in spite of the areas in which she typically
resides being well covered by game-viewing vehicles, there were no sightings
of her this month. It could be that she is lying low, particularly if
her son has been kicked out and she now no longer has to provide for him
as well as for herself. Also, with the Tlebe Rocks Male, her old mate,
gone, she will be all the more wary. Another factor affecting her mobility
and secrecy would be a new litter of cubs which she may well have or be
about to have. Hopefully viewing in the next few months will deliver some
answers.
August 2002 HLABATINI
FEMALE
1 MALE
CUB * 23 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD
(1 sighting of the female, no confirmed sightings of her cub) The
single encounter with the Hlabatini Female this month was of a particularly
grumpy leopard. She was quite clearly not happy to see even one landrover
approach her and was finally left to herself. In the process of abandoning
her son, perhaps also expecting another litter of cubs soon and with the
Newington Male taking over the territory of her previous mate, the Tlebe
Rocks Male, the Hlabatini Female may well have reason to be somewhat stressed.
 JULY
2002
HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 22 MONTHS Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD (2 sightings of the female, no confirmed sightings of
her cub)
The two encounters with the Hlabatini Female were within a week of one
another and towards the beginning of July. The first one had the leopard
hunting, ultimately failing to catch the steenbok which she had her eye
upon, but ignoring the landrovers. The next sighting was of a rather irritable
leopard which grudgingly accepted the presence of a single landrover and
was eventually left to herself. Such mood swings are to be expected from
the old Hlabatini Female.  She
was not seen with her son at all this month and it may be that he has
been abandoned. If this is the case, then hopefully the Hlabatini Female
is pregnant again with another litter. The one worry for her of course
is whether or not the Tlebe Rocks Male, the male leopard currently dominant
in the area which includes her territory, remains in power. The Newington
Male this month spent much time pacing this particular area and was not
seen to be challenged by the Tlebe Rocks Male. But has this loss of power
for the Tlebe Rocks Male perhaps been on the cards already? A few months
ago the Hlabatini Female unexpectedly appeared way out of the Tlebe Rocks
Males' territory and within the region patrolled by both the Newington
Male and the old male with the short tail. This latter leopard was seen
in this same area only few hours after the Hlabatini Female had been encountered.
One of the most obvious reasons for a female leopard to leave her territory
is to find a mate and she will copulate with another male if the dominant
male of the area is for some reason or other unavailable when she comes
into season. But, perhaps anticipating the Newington Male coming into
power, the Hlabatini Female on this occasion sought out him or the older
male with the short tail for mating.
JUNE 2002 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 21 MONTHS Location: CENTRAL & NE EYREFIELD/ N MALA MALA   (7 sightings of the female, 1confirmed sightings of her
cub, this together with the Hlabatini Female)
The Hlabatini Female delivered some fine viewing this month! Towards the
beginning of June she killed a young male impala which she then dragged
off into a thicket. Two days after this, a young male leopard (almost
certainly her son) was seen feeding from the remains which had been taken
into a tall tree. A week later, she and her son were found in almost the
same area, this time with the scraps of an adult female duiker which had
been stashed in a bare Marula Tree. Hyenas were on the ground below waiting
for scraps to fall and when the Hlabatini Female dropped the last of the
kill, both the hyenas and her son rushed to retrieve what had fallen.
The hyenas dominated, but the young male leopard put on a spirited show
when he initially stood up to them. But alone and in the daytime the son
of the Hlabatini Female (which this months viewing showed was still being
looked after by his mother) remains a shy creature, slinking off when
approached by a vehicle. As yet there are no indications that the Hlabatini
Female is pregnant with her next litter.
MAY 2002 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 20 MONTHS Location: SW, SOUTH-CENTRAL & NE EYREFIELD/ N MALA MALA (5 sightings of the female, no confirmed sightings of
her cub)
The Hlabatini Female seems to be pushing west, entering an area that is
being sought after by one of the daughters of the Ngoboswan Female. Is
she doing this in an attempt to avoid her son, which she wants to abandon,
or is she simply trying to claim another productive piece of land? Time
will hopefully tell. But in the meantime, the Hlabatini Female has continued
to provide fine viewing and has become a leopard quite relaxed in the
presence of landrovers, this a far cry from the animal seen last August,
this after a long period of absence. Also, her right front leg, then almost
non-functional, hardly appears to be troubling her and, apart from an
almost imperceptible limp, the Hlabatini Female might be just another
efficient leopard. The lack of sightings of her together with her son
and encounters with a less-than-two-year-old male leopard within her territory
all point to the fact that the two have parted ways. But whether the Hlabatini
Female is pregnant again with her next litter is not yet known.
APRIL 2002 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 19 MONTHS Location : CENTRAL EYREFIELD/ NW MALA MALA (2 sightings of the female, no confirmed sightings of
her cub)
The Hlabatini Female may well have abandoned her son by this stage. It
is not known whether she has mated again, but one of the sightings of
the Hlabatini Female this month was of her quite far outside her territorial
limits. When a female leopard is mating, it is not uncommon for her to
leave her own territory, either to follow the male with which she is mating,
or to find a male. On this occasion, the Hlabatini Female was found inside
the area which the daughter of the Ngoboswan Female has been trying to
claim. She may have been in the area to mate, or of course to chase the
younger female leopard with which she has interacted in the past, this
an attempt to get her to respect existing territorial boundaries. Two
male leopards are know to roam this area, the Newington Male and the old
male with the shorter than average tail. Whilst the Tlebe Rocks Male is
thought to be the mate of the Hlabatini Female, if he was not around when
she comes into season, she would set out looking for an alternative. From
past liaisons, the Hlabatini Female is probably familiar with the old
male leopard with the shorter than average tail and it may be that she
had gone out to find him. As it turned out, both this male and the daughter
of the Ngoboswan Female were found the following day, in the area in which
the Hlabatini Female had been the previous evening.
MARCH 2002  HLABATINI
FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 18 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD (1sighting of the female, no confirmed sightings of her
cub)
There was only one confirmed sighting of the Hlabatini Female this month
and this right at the end of the game-report period when she was found
out on the hunt on central Eyrefield. Although she tried very diligently
to circle and catch up with a lone male impala, the prey proved too alert
and elusive and gave her the slip. Earlier on in the month there was a
sighting of a female leopard hunting impala at night. Circumstances prevented
good identification, but it was in all likelihood the Hlabatini Female.
The leopard was ultimately lost in thick bush, but the following night
lions were seen appropriating an impala carcass from this exact same area,
so it is highly likely that the leopard managed to kill one, only to have
it stolen by lions. The fact that the kill was not in a tree is perhaps
also indication that the leopard was the Hlabatini Female. Ever since
she injured her right-front leg, the Hlabatini Female has never been seen
to take a kill up a tree and although the leg appears almost healed, she
would really not have the ability of a healthy leopard to tree a carcass.
FEBRUARY 2002  HLABATINI
FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 17 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD (3 sightings of the female, 1 of these with her cub)
Although there were only few sightings of the Hlabatini Female this month,
they were of good quality and also showed what a varied temperament to
expect from her. The first encounter with the Hlabatini Female had her
alone and on the move, probably combining a hunting foray with a territory
patrol and she acted as though the landrovers were not around - a leopard
completely oblivious to their presence. The next sighting was of her and
her son, both looking well fed and moving dedicatedly from one area to
another and here both leopards showed  apprehension
and the sighting was restricted. Circumstances have been such that the
son of the Hlabatini Female was never well exposed to gamedrive vehicles
during his early years and the subsequent recent introduction to them
has probably been a little late; he will probably always be apprehensive.
The last sighting of the Hlabatini Female during February was the day
after the above and she was in the area from where she and her son had
emerged the previous day and eating the remains of an impala kill recently
abandoned by the Tlebe Rocks Male. Also in the area was the daughter of
the Ngoboswan Female which is trying to establish herself in the area
between the territories of the Hlabatini and Ngoboswan Females. Inevitably
this territory establishment by a new leopard will upset neighbours-to-be
and so the Hlabatini Female may well have been in the area in response
to this young leopards presence. Alternatively, she may have been helping
herself to a kill perhaps appropriated from her by the Tlebe Rocks Male.
Whatever the reason for her presence here, she behaved with complete indifference
to the presence of landrovers. Although the one shoulder of the Hlabatini
Female still troubles her, she does not appear to be limping as noticeably
as when the injury was first noticed in August last year.
JANUARY 2002 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 16 MONTHS Location: CENTRAL EYREFIELD (4 sightings of the female, 3 of these with
her cub)
The Hlabatini Female appears to be in good health and, if anything, her
injured right front leg seems to be getting better. Although this leopard
seems reasonably unconcerned with landrovers when she is by herself, her
son remains a touch apprehensive. Perhaps the best sighting involving
the Hlabatini Female this month happened when she and her son encountered
the one two-and-a-half-year-old daughter of the Ngoboswan Female following
the Tlebe Rocks Male; this was deep inside Hlabatini Female territory.
As could be expected, the Hlabatini Female was most unimpressed and a
vicious spitting and scent-marking exercise ensued before all leopards
went their separate ways. The Tlebe Rocks Male is almost certainly the
father of the son of the Hlabatini Female.
DECEMBER 2001 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 15 MONTHS Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD  (3
sightings of the female, all with her cub; two sightings of the cub on
his own)
The Hlabatini Female battles on with her injured right front leg. Good
news is that the limp may not be as pronounced as it was six or so months
ago and that this courageous old leopard really does seem to be succeeding.
Although neither she nor her son usually tolerate vehicles, they relax
down and provide good sightings when viewed by only one landrover at a
time. As could be expected, the rapidly growing young male cub requires
plenty of food and this has no doubt forced the Hlabatini Female to work
harder and move further in search of food. This should increase chances
of seeing the two leopards and sustained cautious viewing will hopefully
calm them down, the youngster in particular.
NOVEMBER 2001 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 14 MONTHS Location: CENTRAL & E EYREFIELD (2 sightings, 1 with her cub)
 The
two sightings of the Hlabatini Female have shown that she is managing
to cope well with her injured right front leg. One of the sightings suggested
that the injury (something internal?) may be healing, but a subsequent
encounter did not reveal this and the leopard is still moving with a pronounced
limp. At the last sighting of the month when she was with her son, they
were finishing off some or other kill. Now that there is an abundance
of baby impalas, things should be easier for the Hlabatini Female - as
with all leopards - and even her maturing son should be able to find some
of his own food and take this opportunity to go onto a rapid learning
curve.
OCTOBER 2001 HLABATINI FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 13 MONTHS Location: CENTRAL-E EYREFIELD (3 sightings, 2 with her cub)
One of the big surprises of the month came when the Hlabatini Female,
still limping from what appears to be a dislocated elbow or shoulder on
her right-front leg, was found with a male cub. The Hlabatini Female had
the carcass of an adult male impala which had been dragged to the base
of a tree and covered with brush and other debris to hide it from scavengers
and had fetched her son to the feast. The young leopard was not relaxed
in the presence of vehicles and cautious viewing was exercised. So not
only has this courageous old leopard managed to hang onto life, but has
supported a male cub for at least a year - the youngster looked to be
at least a year of age and she was seen lactating in early November last
year. Hopefully more encounters will occur, particularly as the young
male gets progressively more mobile and requires more food. With respectful
viewing it can only be hoped that he will calm down in the presence of
vehicles. Although the Hlabatini Female can definitely still climb trees
- this was seen at another sighting this month when she fled from some
lions - it is not known what her carcass-treeing abilities are like. She
certainly made no effort to take the impala kill into a tree, although
it had been positioned apparently with that in mind. But to have been
able to take down an adult male impala is something in itself, even for
an uninjured female leopard.
SEPTEMBER 2001 Location: CENTRAL-E EYREFIELD  (1
sighting)
The single confirmed sighting of the Hlabatini Female indicated that she
was still limping severely, favouring the right front leg. At a guess
it appears as if the elbow has been dislocated. But as debilitating as
such an injury might be to others, the Hlabatini Female has responded
as only a leopard could and her body condition remains good. She has no
doubt learned to cope with her changed fortunes and has continued to get
enough to eat. Of course the big problems would come with territory control
- how does she get around her domain frequently enough to ensure that
its integrity is maintained and how does she confront those which may
see her weakness? As valiant as she may be, the odds are certainly against
her.
AUGUST 2001 Location: NORTH WESTERN EYREFIELD (2 sightings this month)
The two sightings of the Hlabatini Female this month were the first in
many weeks. However, all is not good news. The Hlabatini Female was limping
badly, her right front leg apparently very painful; not broken, but perhaps
with a dislocated joint. Sightings were ten days apart and the injury
was as severe on both occasions. Such an injury would no doubt be a severe
handicap for her and if she were to survive then all her leopard resourcefulness
would have to be called upon. As it was, she was certainly not emaciated.
Leopards have been known to survive on small items of prey and scavenge
whenever possible. So perhaps the Hlabatini Female can still make it.
Given the tremendously physical life which these predators live, it is
a wonder that such injuries do not occur more often.
JULY 2001 Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (no sightings this month)
JUNE 2001 Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (no sightings this month)
MAY 2001 Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (no sightings this month)
APRIL 2001 Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (no sightings this month)
MARCH 2001 Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (no sightings this month)
FEBRUARY 2001 Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (no sightings this month)
JANUARY 2001
Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD
(no sightings this month)
DECEMBER 2000
Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD
(no sightings this month) Although it
is now known that the Hlabatini Female has given birth and is probably
residing towards the north and east of the reserve, limited vehicle
traffic in the area has meant that there will be little chance of encountering
her.
NOVEMBER 2000
Location: NORTH EASTERN EYREFIELD (1 sighting)
The single sighting of the Hlabatini Female
was the first in several months. She was seen with a freshly killed
baby impala. Good news is that she was lactating, indicating that she
has given birth. Unfortunately access to the area where she typically
resides is not easy so whatever cubs she has may well be raised with
minimal exposure to game-drive vehicles. Such young leopards then never
really relax down and seldom provide good viewing.
OCTOBER 2000
Location: EASTERN-CENTRAL EYREFIELD
(no sightings)
SEPTEMBER 2000
Location: EASTERN-CENTRAL EYREFIELD
(no sightings)
AUGUST 2000
Location: EASTERN-CENTRAL EYREFIELD (1
sighting)
The single sighting of the Hlabatini Female
this month was in an area where she could have been expected to be found.
There were no signs that she is lactating and neither that she is pregnant.
This is not surprising given that a new male leopard appears to have
established himself in a territory which would include her.
JULY 2000
Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ EYREFIELD
BOUNDARY
(no sightings in July)
JUNE 2000
Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ EYREFIELD
BOUNDARY
(no sightings in June)
MAY 2000
Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ EYREFIELD
BOUNDARY (3 sightings)
The three sightings of the Hlabatini Female
allocated to the May game report period all continue from last month
when she had killed an impala and dragged it into one of the rocky Koppies
in her territory. Here she frustrated all by hardly moving and when
she did, was visible for brief but tantalising moments.
FEBRUARY/ MARCH/ APRIL 2000
Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ EYREFIELD
BOUNDARY (1sighting)
The single confirmed sighting of the Hlabatini
Female was quite dramatic and saw her killing an eighteen month-old
male impala and then drag the carcass into a nearby rocky koppie. Two
days before this sighting, there was a relatively short-lived encounter
with a female leopard in this same area and it is thought that it was
the Hlabatini Female. The leopard had been actively calling when she
was found. Such behaviour could involve defence of her territorial boundaries
or the calling of a male for mating purposes.
JANUARY 2000
Location: NORTH CENTRAL MALA MALA & WESTERN
MALA MALA/ EYREFIELD BOUNDARY
(no confirmed sightings this month).
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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