The Rock Drift Male Leopard (Tjololo)
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When rangers and staff of MalaMala arose on the morning of Tuesday the 13 November 2007, none would have guessed that the day was shaping up to be one of the darkest days in recent history. During the course of the morning a male leopard was found along the Campbell Road on the MalaMala western boundary. Tom Bloy went to investigate reports of this leopard being the Rock Drift male and that he had been badly injured by a porcupine. Tom found Tjololo lying just inside MalaMala and he was in a pretty bad way. He was emaciated and had many long porcupine quills projecting from his neck, shoulders, legs and feet. MalaMala’s policy is to never interfere in the natural order of the bushveld, however in this case an exception was made for a leopard that had manoeuvred his way into the hearts of many. The vets were called from the KNP and they decided to dart Tjololo and remove the quills and clean his wounds. Tjololo never regained consciousness. As the procedure neared its end, the antidote was administered and Tjololo took his last breath and did not stir again. The Rock Drift Male will be sorely missed by all those that knew him, both old and new, such was the distinction of this extraordinary leopard.
October 2007 The Rock Drift Male was seen once during the report period as he moved through the central southern parts of the reserve. He was in good condition and still provides rangers with a rare appearance every now and then. September 2007 The Rock Drift male (Tjololo) was seen a number of times during the report period. The male was seen to dwell around the area of the giraffe that the Selati pride had killed, however he was not seen to feed. Sadly, the male was not in very good condition, with the male not only being very thin, but also sporting a large wound on his fore leg. One hopes that he will recover from his injuries.
August 2007 The legend of MalaMala’s leopards the Rock Drift Male was seen twice during the month. He was looking fit and healthy on both occasions. This leopard is now over fourteen and hasn’t been territorial for a long time but still continues to show up and entertain many an excited guest and ranger. July 2007 This legendary leopard of MalaMala was seen late one evening on Zebra Skull North. He was only viewed for a short period of time before he was left moving east off the road. Rangers followed up extensively in the area the following morning without success. Interestingly, this male was seen in a similar region the previous month. He was seen again, later during the report period, in the upper reaches of the Tjellahanga River. June 2007 The legendary Rock Drift male was found at the very end of the report period on the Charleston/Flockfield boundary in the centre of the reserve. He was followed excitedly by the rangers and was observed to hunt impala twice in the early evening, unfortunately unsuccessfully. It is really good to see this leopard still doing so well. He is one of the oldest male leopards in the reserve and has moved his territory out into the Kruger National Park, but he still visits Mala Mala when patrolling the western extent of his territory. April 2007 The Rock Drift Male was seen twice during the month of April. On the first occasion he was seen looking well but getting a bit old. He killed a kudu during the evening but was not relocated the next morning. Being a nomadic male he now wanders all over Mala Mala and we suspect he spends a lot of time the Kruger National Park.
February 2007 The Rock Drift Male leopard, widely known by guests as Tjololo was seen on one occasion in the south-eastern reaches of the reserve. January 2007 The Rock Drift Male was seen only once during the report period. He was hunting impala on the southern parts of the reserve. December 2006 The Rock Drift Male was not seen during the report period. November 2006 The Rock Drift Male was seen several times in the southern parts of the reserve, close to the KNP. It seems probable that this male spends the majority of his time in the Kruger. It is not clear whether he actively holds and defends a territory, but when he was seen, he was scent marking. What is clear is that if he holds a territory, it is a fraction of the size of the area of which he formerly exerted such formidable control. October 2006 The Rock Drift Male was seen on one occasion last month on the 28th. It seems that he only comes onto the property on the far Eastern Charleston. He still looks in good condition despite his age. September 2006 The Rock Drift Male was found on one occasion, this in a favoured old time spot of his near Charleston North Crossing. Again the leopard maintained a low profile as he went westwards, but seemed to be in good condition. August 2006 The Rock Drift Male was found on two occasions, all of which were on eastern Charleston. This popular male leopard is quite old now, but is still in superb condition. He was not seen to do anything dramatic when viewed. July 2006 Rock Drift Male made a welcome return to Mala Mala during the report period. He was seen on one occasion in his old haunts in the south of the reserve. He looked well, and was left heading eastwards into the Kruger National Park .
June 2006 ROCK DRIFT MALE There was one sighting of the once dominant Rock Drift Male during the month of June. He was near the Chellahanga River , an area he knows very well. He was followed during the evening, and is clearly nomadic now, as he did not scent mark or act in a dominant manner. May 2006 ROCK DRIFT MALE (0 sightings) There were no sightings of the Rock Drift Male during the month of May. What has happened to this popular leopard is uncertain, but both the Hlaralini Male in the south and the Newington male in the north have definitely displaced him. April 2006 ROCK DRIFT MALE (4 sightings) After an absence of over three months, the Rock Drift Male reappeared and was seen on some of his traditional old strongholds on Flockfield. While there was nothing exciting to report, the old stalwart looked rather fit and well. He even had the audacity to scent mark in some of the territory that was once his. Obviously too old to be a territorial male, this old scrapper must still be holding his own with his adopted nomadic lifestyle.
January / February / March 2006 No sightings this month. MalaMala
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Rock Drift male leopard (Tjololo) – 13 November 2007
