April 2010
KAPEN FEMALE 16 YEARS 7 MONTHS
NORTHERN CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(1 sighting)
Another dynasty comes to an end at Mala Mala, the Kapen female was found dead on the 4th of April 2010. She had been severely mauled and half her left flank was missing, she also had several puncture wounds around her head and neck area. Upon inspection lion tracks were found in the area with members of the Eyrefield pride being the most likely culprits.
The Kapen female always had a love hate relationship with the rangers, she was born on the property to the Trollips crossing female and was litter mates to the white cloth female. Both females made it to independence and both took up residence on Flockfield, the white cloth female later moved north into Gowrie. The Kapen female however found the perfect territory along the Kapen river and held it until almost the very end when she was evicted by her granddaughter the Flockfield female. The Kapen river has thick dense foliage covering both banks which made it a great territory for a leopard but it also led to the Kapen female not being viewed as much as some of the other leopards and so she was always weary of vehicles, she would allow them to view her as she walked her territory but she would fiercely guard any kill she had made and if she had any cubs, her last cub we saw for the first time when it was nine months old. Every ranger who spent time with this low slung beauty can tell you stories of her coming out the bushes teeth bared, snarling, hissing, putting doubt in even the hardest of us, but she would always settled down giving us the odd snarl and death stare as she fed off her kills. The Kapen female was unfortunate in raising cubs and throughout her life she only managed to raise three successful litters, the Jakkalsdraai female now lives on the property, the new Hogvaal female died and the Lisbon male lives in the west. A plucky powerful female to the end we will always remember her fondly, may she rest in peace.
Weight: 34kg
Length:160cm
March 2010
KAPEN FEMALE 16 YEARS 6 MONTHS
NORTHERN CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(2 sighting)
This female leopard has only been seen a few times this month and continues her shy ways and this results in sightings being very brief. She is looking old and with her losing her territory she is being forced to move a lot and is almost becoming a nomadic female while she hunts and searches for food, even scavenging. However she is a resilient leopard and it will take a lot more than a few hungry days to put her down. She seems to be moving further north towards West Street and this does not stem well as she will come in contact with more leopard and lions in this area.
Febuary 2010
KAPEN FEMALE 16 YEARS 5 MONTHS
NORTHERN CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(5 sighting)
This old female looks to have lost her territory; she was seen more times this month than almost the entire year of 2009. On an average month we would be lucky to see her once because of the territory she used to hold. The bush around the Kapen river is some of the thickest most impenetrable bush in the entire property which is perfect for leopards but not for the land rovers. This month however she was spotted well north of her territory in and around West Street bridge area. This territory is currently up for grabs as the Ngoboswan female has also vacated but the Kapen female would hardly be looking to extend her territory at her age. The most likely answer to her northward movements is that she too has been evicted from her territory, and the most likely candidate for the eviction would be her grand daughter the Flockfield female. The Kapen female does however still look in fine condition and excellent health.
January 2010
KAPEN FEMALE 16 YEARS 4 MONTHS
NORTHERN CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(2 sighting)
Both sightings had this female looking in great condition and still within her territory. She is reaching the age like the Ngoboswan female where younger females are going to start putting pressure on her for the territory and some day soon she is going to lose it. But for the time being she looks to still be in control and healthy enough to defend it.
