May 2008

Again this old male leopard has not been seen over the report period. The Newington Male leopard was truly a Mala Mala animal, having been born on the property and rarely leaving it. With so many strong male leopards on the property, perhaps the Newington Male is still alive, but is living life under the radar of the younger stronger males, especially the Emsagwen Male leopard, who is dominating the last of the Newington Male leopard’s territory.

January 2008

NEWINGTON MALE                 * 9 YEARS 3 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD, MALAMALA, NORTHERN-CENTRAL FLOCKFIELD
(1 sightings)

The Newington Male, once one of MalaMala’ most dominant leopards, seems to have moved his territory into the KNP to the east of the Kapen River and north to opposite the Matshapiri. Over the last few months he has been seen less and less and last report period he was seen only twice and this report period he has been seen only once, in the Kapen River, west of the KNP. This shift in territory is most likely due to confrontations with the Manyelethi male leopard, a bigger and slightly older leopard, which is taking over most of the Newington Males old haunts. Perhaps the Newington Male will stage a return in months to come but until then we will have to take what viewing of him we can get.

Photograph by ranger Andrew Batchelor