NEWINGTON MALE
| NEWINGTON MALE
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| December 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 6 YEARS 2 MONTHS Location: MALA MALA Quite surprisingly, the Newington Male leopard was only seen on two occasions during this report period. On the one occasion, he was seen very close to the camp, in an area much visited by the Bicycle Crossing Male in recent weeks.
On the other occasion, he was followed south and east from south of Campbell Koppies across the middle reaches of the Matshapiri. In this area, he came upon a female leopard, his recent mate the Matshapiri Female. His intentions were far from amorous, however, and he aggressively chased her up a tree! Where he spent most of the month is open to speculation, but the Newington Male has long been known as a leopard with a large range. He has probably reached his full size now, and is a fairly large leopard, quite capable of holding his own in clashes with more experienced leopards. November 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 6 YEARS 1 MONTH Location: EYREFIELD / MALA MALA / EASTERN MARTHLY / NORTHERN FLOCKFIELD (8 sightings)
Apart from that, he was also seen feeding on yet another warthog kill. The Newington Male has a history of being an efficient warthog killer, but all leopards should exercise great caution when hunting warthogs, as the lower tusks of these animals are really sharp and can inflict severe, even fatal injuries. A glance at the map will show that the Newington Male covered a fair amount of ground in November. He is in his prime now, and should continue to provide fine viewing for a few more years. October 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 6 YEARS 0 MONTHS Location: EYREFIELD / MALA MALA All seems well with the Newington Male, and it is interesting to see that he spent some time on the western bank of the Sand River again. As a young leopard looking to establish himself a few years ago, he was often seen on the western bank of the Sand, not far from Mala Mala camp, but he was undoubtedly ousted from the area by the much larger Short Tail Male (very likely his father).  
September 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 11 MONTHS Location: EYREFIELD / MALA MALA (7 sightings)
Seen somewhat more frequently in September than in August, the Newington Male is also seeking to add Short Tail Male land to his already large territory. He was seen feeding on two kills, one of them an impala, the other a baboon, and he was seen on a couple of occasions to hunt warthogs without success. He is very familiar with a burrow regularly used by a female warthog and her three youngsters, and he was seen to patiently wait a few metres outside the entrance to the burrow, listening intently for a warthog to emerge. For a few tense moments, the mother warthog put her head outside the burrow, just after the leopard had moved around to the far side of the termite mound. The leopard quickly came back around, having heard her movements, but the warthog immediately retreated backwards into the safety of the burrow. A couple of hours passed with no further movement from the warthogs, and eventually the leopard moved well clear to rest. It was during this lazy period that the warthogs took their chance and raced across to an open area, where they were able to resume their normal daily routine. The next day, the Newington Male was found with his baboon kill! Male leopard dynamics in the north of the reserve should show some interesting developments in the next few months. August 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 10 MONTHS Location: EASTERN EYREFIELD / MARTHLY / NORTHERN MALA MALA (2 sightings) The Newington Male was only seen twice during this game report period, and these sightings were 24 days apart. On the first occasion, he was followed for a considerable distance, as he moved from the Campbell Koppies area, through Picadilly and then north to Mlowathi Dam. He seldom seems hurried in his movements, but does cover a good deal of ground!
Later in the month, he was found resting in a leadwood tree along the lower reaches of the Mlowathi River. He descended the tree and settled down at the base of another, and it was quite clear that he had recently eaten very well. Some warthogs approached the area where he was resting, and there was an air of expectation when the pigs approached a mud wallow. The leopard, however, failed to hear them, and looked set to sleep for a few more hours. This was in the morning. By late afternoon he had not moved, but the he stretched and started to lazily walk northwards along a road. Full belly swinging as he walked, it was clear that he was not hunting, but merely going about patrolling his territory. He disturbed a resting duiker close to the road, and as this little antelope was flushed and ran off through the long grass, the Newington Male transformed himself from a "Garfield"-like creature to a powerful, fast predator. He took off at great speed after the duiker, caught and killed it. He wasted little time in hoisting it into the limbs of another leadwood tree, and provided some good viewing of feeding in a tree. July 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 9 MONTHS Location: EASTERN EYREFIELD / MARTHLY / NORTHERN MALA MALA (3 sightings) There were few sightings of the Newington Male in July, but he appears to be doing well. He was seen with an impala kill just to the east of the Mlowathi River in the north of the reserve at the beginning of this game report period. The other two sightings of him were three weeks apart, and saw him doing little out of the ordinary, simply patrolling his territory and hunting. The Newington Male is in his prime now, and his territory is believed to be quite large. Recent developments could well result in more frequent sightings of the Newington Male in the future, possibly involving interactions with the Rock Drift Male. June 2004
May 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 7 MONTHS Location: JUNCTION OF MARTHLY/ MALA MALA & EYREFIELD (5 sightings)
All encounters with the Newington Male this month were around the Mlowathi River. Perhaps the most dramatic sighting took place towards the middle of the report-period, when he was seen with the Campbell Koppies Female. The two leopards were seen to mate on two occasions before the Newington Male caught an impala which he then took up a tree in the nick of time, just as a hyaena tried to steal it. This action spelled the end of the mating and the Newington Male turned aggressive to his mate, refusing to let her share from the carcass.
Although this mating may have been an indication that the Campbell Koppies Female has lost the litter which she gave birth to four or so months ago, other indications are that at least one cub is still alive. Given the fact that the Campbell Koppies Females' territory falls within the area patrolled by the Newington Male, chances are that he is the father of this litter. April 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 6 MONTHS Location: JUNCTION OF MARTHLY/ MALA MALA & EYREFIELD (4 sightings) The sightings of the Newington Male weren't particularly extraordinary, although the last two, towards the end of the month had him in a large Leadwood Tree with the carcass of an adult female impala. A dramatic thunderstorm the previous evening had created good killing conditions for all nocturnal predators.
Otherwise the Newington Male appears to be in fine form and well in control of his territory. March 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 5 MONTHS Location:
JUNCTION OF MARTHLY/ MALA MALA & EYREFIELD
The single sighting of the Newington Male was of him patrolling along the area considered to be towards the southwestern limits of his territory. Perhaps the relative lack of sightings of the Newington Male this month was at least partly a consequence of the heavy rains which prevented regular access to the northeastern parts of the reserve where much of his territory lies. February 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 4 MONTHS Location:
SW EYREFIELD/ NORTHERN & CENTRAL MALA MALA
The Newington Male delivered nothing spectacular this month as far as viewing is concerned and sightings of him suggested a leopard in good health patrolling the borders of his territory. On one occasion, the Newington Male walked within only a short distance from where the Campbell Koppies Female was feeding from an impala carcass, but gave no sign that he was aware of her presence. Evidence suggests that the Campbell Koppies Female has just given birth and that the Newington Male is the father of this litter. January 2004 NEWINGTON MALE * 5 YEARS 3 MONTHS Location:
W EYREFIELD/ NORTHERN MALA MALA The four sightings of the Newington Male this month were nothing out of the ordinary as far as general leopard behaviour goes and he was seen on some of the far-flung parts of his territory.
Although the Newington Male, at one stage, appeared to be keen on taking over at least part of the old Short Tail Males' territory, sightings suggest that this is no longer the case and it is the Rock Drift Male which is leading the race for this control. MalaMala
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