MalaMala - The Wildlife

Location: CENTRAL CHARLESTON-TOULON BOUNDARY/ SE TOULON (west of the Sand River)

As was the case last month, there were few sightings of the Toulon Female during December. However, the first encounter with this leopard early in this game-report-period indicated that she is lactating and this would almost certainly account for the relative secrecy of her movments of late compared with that observed in preceding months.

It is not known where whaterver cubs there are are being hidden; the area in which the Toulon Female has her territory has some of the most inhospitable terrain on Mala Mala and they could be secreted anywhere. Leopard cubs usually start eating meat when they are about three-months-old. Once they start and are being led to kills, encounters with them become more common.

Although the Toulon Female is quite an old leopard, she has lost many litters and has raised only one or two cubs to maturity; hopefully she will have more luck with this litter.

November 2002

There was but a single sighting of the Toulon Female this month and this near the very beginning of November. This is a complete contrast to viewing over previous months. Why the change in behaviour? Has something happened to her, or has it simply been a case of just not seeing her?

October 2002

The Toulon Female was certainly seen this month, but nothing terribly exciting can be reported. Now that another female leopard seems to have forced her to move eastwards, the Toulon Female seems to have settled down again and is continuing with life once more. There have been no indications that she is pregnant or has even mated again.

September 2002

Sightings of the Toulon Female this month indicated that she is definitely spending a great deal of time further east than has been the case over the last few years. This is almost certainly the result of some other female leopard pressurising her from the west. A nervous female leopard has been seen several times over the last few months in the area which used to be considered the western parts of the Toulon Females territory. And rather than fight with this female leopard, the Toulon Female, herself quite an old leopard, has moved east, probably taking up land which has for some time been without a resident female.

August 2002

Sightings of the Toulon Female indicated that she is definitely not lactating and any hints last month that she might have had cubs were certainly false. The Toulon Female was seen only three times during August and, rather surprisingly, all of these encounters were to the east of areas where she has been active over recent months. Two reasons may explain this. Firstly, another female leopard may be challenging the Toulon Female on her western flank, forcing her east and, secondly, another, perhaps weaker, female may be attempting to edge in on the land which joins the northeastern parts of the Toulon Females territory. If the female leopard to the west is indeed strong, then the Toulon Female may well head eastwards, particularly if space permits. The Toulon Female is actually quite an old leopard, perhaps past her prime, making her potentially susceptible to aggressive younger leopards looking for territories. And if one of these leopards were weaker than the other, then the Toulon Female would perhaps concentrate on this rather than on a stronger animal. One of the sightings of the Toulon Female this month, close to the confluence of the Chellahanga and Sand Rivers, came just as another female leopard, a young adult, was found marking territory close by. The Toulon Female was reciprocating the marking process, no doubt in direct response to this younger leopard.

July 2002

(7 confirmed sightings)
Towards the beginning of July, the Toulon Female continued to roam the peripheries of her range, something which was being seen during June as well and interpreted as her getting ready to be area-bound by a new litter of cubs. Then, towards the middle of July, all signs were that she had either given birth to cubs or was about to. Not only did she suddenly seem to spend time in an area of the Sand River opposite Kirkmans Camp where she often keeps her cubs during their early days of vulnerability, but her mate, the Hlarulini Male, was also seen to visit the area, perhaps to inspect this new litter. The two were seen mating in early April. On the day that the Hlarulini Male was in this particular area, the Toulon Female was seen killing an adult duiker and taking it up a tree. But so far there has been no confirmation that the Toulon Female is indeed lactating and all of this might just be hopeful coincidence.

June 2002

(4 confirmed sightings)
The Toulon Female may well be about to give birth. She was seen mating with the Hlarulini Male towards the beginning of April and, allowing for a 3-and-a-half months or so's pregnancy, cubs may be expected towards the end of July.

May 2002

(2 confirmed sightings)
Although there were only two confirmed sightings with the Toulon Female this month, there were other 'probables', one of which included another female leopard. The two leopards vanished into a riverine thicket before any identification could be made, but it is almost certain that one was the Toulon Female and the other a territorial neighbour.

April 2002

(5 sightings)
The Toulon Female was seen mating with the Hlarulini Male towards the beginning of April. This of course means that the litter which she gave birth to only a few months ago is already dead. Goodness knows what could have happened to whatever cubs had been born. It may have been simple bad luck. But this seems to be the history for the Toulon Female; she simply battles to keep her cubs alive. Of at least half-a-dozen litters which she is known to have borne, only one cub, perhaps two, have made it to the point of independence.

March 2002

(5 sightings)
Several of the sightings of the Toulon Female were close to the area where she is thought to have stashed her current litter. No cubs have been seen, but the Toulon Female still appeared to be lactating.

February 2002

(3 sightings)
The three sightings of the Toulon Female revealed that she was lactating and her movements had her restricted to the area of the Sand River east of Kirkmans Camp, a place which has numerous hidey-holes which this leopard has used to conceal her previous cubs. Let it be hoped that this litter will at last be able to reach maturity. Her previous few cubs have not had much luck, almost certainly due to male leopard instability. The male leopard thought to be the father of the cubs has not yet been named, but is probably the one which has a large nick out of his left ear and seems reasonably relaxed in the presence of vehicles. Towards the end of the month, the Toulon Female was seen to be limping, favouring one of her rear legs. But whatever injury she had did not appear too debilitating and will hopefully heal completely.

January 2002

December 2001

(no sightings)
The lack of sightings of the Toulon Female during December were probably largely due to a lack of gamedrive vehicles in the area in which she typically resides, this courtesy of a strong-flowing Sand River covering some of the low-water crossings.

November 2001

(6 sightings)
The sightings of the Toulon Female this month confirmed two things; (1) that she has lost her two cubs born five or so months ago and (2) that she appears to be claiming back territory which she once held prior to the floods of February 2000. This latter area is the section of land south of the territory held by the Kapen Female which until recently was occupied by the probably now deceased Chellahanga Female.

October 2001

(2 sightings, none of the cubs)
The Toulon Female was seen only twice this month - confirmed sightings that is. There was one occasion when a male and female leopard were seen with a bushbuck kill on NW Toulon and the female was probably the Toulon Female. Needless to say, the male leopard claimed the kill. There have been no sightings of the Toulon Females' two cubs for some weeks now and there is some concern as to whether they are still alive or not. Given her track record of raising cubs, it would come as no surprise if these too have been lost.

September 2001

(3 sightings, 1 with both cubs)
The single sighting of the two cubs of the Toulon Female was towards the beginning of this report period. Subsequent encounters with the Toulon Female were in the vicinity of the Sand River near Kirkmans Camp, an area where she has in the past kept her cubs concealed during their early months of vulnerability.

August 2001

(6 sightings, 1 with both cubs)
Perhaps some of the most exciting news of the month as far as leopards are concerned was the sighting of two small cubs with the Toulon Female. When the Toulon Female was discovered, it appeared as if she was simply out hunting. However, she soon worked her way into a steep gully system in which her two cubs were waiting for her. Although the female was most trusting in heading that way with vehicles following, the cubs were clearly not that accustomed to landrovers and the sighting was restricted in terms of the number of vehicles viewing them. The Toulon Female then called her cubs and led them towards the Sand River where she no doubt had other hiding places in mind. Hopefully this litter will meet with greater success than the last few.

July 2001

(4 sightings)
Sightings of the Toulon Female this month indicated two important facts. One that she has a new litter of cubs - she was lactating - and, two, that she is again moving to the northern bank of the Sand River. This river crossing into an area which she used to frequently patrol before the floods of last February and before the Chellahanga Female claimed them due to the absence of the Toulon Female, suggests too that they are open for reclaiming. An absence of sightings of the old Chellahanga Female over the last month or more could be because this old leopard has either died or has been chased off. Although the Chellahanga Female appeared to emerge victorious over the Toulon Female earlier in the year at the scene of a kill, her days have definitely been numbered and age has probably suddenly caught up with her. Anyway, her departure from things opens avenues for others, whether it be the Toulon Female reclaiming areas or other leopards - such as the cub of the Kapen Female - seeking a territory of their own. For the Toulon Females new litter, let it be hoped that she will have success in raising whatever cubs have been born. Over the last six years or so, the Toulon Female has lost many cubs, due mostly, it seems, to the lack of long-term dominant male leopards in this area over this time.

June 2001

(2 sightings)
Both sightings of the Toulon Female were further east of where she has been seen for some time now, more towards the areas which she used to control when she first arrived on Mala Mala as a young leopard. Why this should be can only be guessed at, but would certainly have something to do with the pressure which she seems to have been experiencing from another leopard to the west of her previous range.

MAY 2001

(1 sighting)
The only sighting of the Toulon Female this month unfortunately provided no new information with regard to the territorial dramas which she is thought to be facing.

APRIL 2001

(8 sightings)
If sightings this month are any indication of things to come, then the Toulon Female faces a challenging future. Towards the beginning of this month, the Toulon Female was seen interacting with another unidentified leopard. Although no physical contact was seen to occur, it was quite evident that a territorial dispute was taking place. Later in the month there were other sightings of a young female leopard in this same area, blatantly marking territory and in so doing directly challenging the Toulon Female. Then, towards the end of April, the Toulon Female suffered what for her must have been an embarrassing setback when she crossed the Sand River from west to east (perhaps as a consequence of the pressure from the afore-mentioned young female leopard) and re-entered territory which she used to control prior to the floods of last year and which has since been occupied by the ageing Chellahanga Female. Here the Toulon Female killed an adult impala, but was soon approached by the Chellahanga Female. A brief fight ensued and the Chellahanga Female claimed the kill. The Toulon Female tried once again to assert her dominance and reclaim her meal, but again the Chellahanga Female triumphed. This reversal of fortunes cannot be pleasant for the Toulon Female. As it is, she is still a leopard in her prime and so she has a distinct advantage over the young challenger on the western bank. However, if the Toulon Female is psychologically defeated, first by the youngster and then by her much older opponent, her future would look decidedly uncertain.

MARCH 2001

(3 sightings)
At the very beginning of the March game-report-period, the Toulon Female was seen mating with an adult male leopard. This of course means that the last litter born to the Toulon Female in January this year is probably dead. Whatever cubs comprised this litter were never seen. The male leopard with which she was mating was not comfortable with the presence of landrovers and its identity could not be confirmed. It may be that it is still the same one which fathered the litter born to the Toulon Female in January. However, sightings of male leopards in the southern areas of the reserve suggest that there may well be a challenger to this male and so it could be that a new leopard has taken over. If so, then there is a likelihood that this leopard could have killed her cubs in order to get her to come into season again. Whatever the cause of the demise of her babies, the Toulon Female has had a bad run in the last few years. Let us hope that things improve.

FEBRUARY 2001

(1 sighting)
There was but a single sighting of the Toulon Female this month, again still south of the Sand River.

JANUARY 2001

Location: NORTHERN TOULON (south of the Sand River)

(7 sightings)
The good news from the leopard world on Mala Mala this month was a sighting mid-way through January of a lactating Toulon Female. Subsequent sightings - including two of her making kills - the one a baby bushbuck, the second a young impala - indicated that whatever babies she has may well be hidden in the rocky reedbeds of the Sand River in the general area of Kirkmans Camp. These cubs probably represent at least her 5th litter in 6 or so years. She has so far raised two young males to a point of independence. The male leopard which fathered this litter is probably the one known to reside in the area and is not particularly tolerant of landrovers, moving away from them when approached. Hopefully, however, his fathering skills will be good and his presence will be sufficient to deter any other males from entering the area and posing a threat to these youngsters of the Toulon Female.

DECEMBER 2000

Location: NORTHERN TOULON (south of the Sand River)

(1 confirmed sighting)

NOVEMBER 2000

Location: NORTHERN TOULON (south of the Sand River)

(1 confirmed sighting)
The single sighting of the Toulon Female was to the south of the Sand River. Last month she was encounterd north of this and it was speculated that she may well start making inroads into an area which used to be regularly patrolled by her. The single sighting of the Chellahanga Female was just to the north of this, but also north of the Sand River and it may be that the Toulon Female was merely exploring and the Chellahanga Female may well step up her own patrols to make sure that the Toulon Female stays away. There was no indication that the Toulon Female was lactating or even pregnant.

OCTOBER 2000

Location: CENTRAL CHARLESTON-TOULON BOUNDARY

(1 confirmed sighting)
The single sighting when there was a confirmed identification of the Toulon Female was of this leopard to the north of the Sand River. This is the first time since the floods of February that this leopard has been seen in this area. Her absence has been contributed not only to the high level of flow of the Sand River, but also to the limits of the territories of the dominant male leopards of the area with the Toulon Female wanting to avoid the Rock Drift Male. Perhaps her visit to her old haunts may have been merely exploratory, but should she want to make a permanent return, this would spell some trouble for the old Chellahanga Female which has taken advantage of her absence and occupied this area as she has been forced out of her old range by the younger and more powerful Paradise Valley Female. There was no sign of her being pregnant or having recently given birth.

SEPTEMBER 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 21 months

Location: NORTHERN TOULON

(4 confirmed sighting of the female, none of her son)
There were several sightings of the Toulon Female during September, but none to indicate that she is pregnant or has given birth, this after mating with the dominant male leopard of the area in June.

AUGUST 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 20 months

Location: NORTH WEST TOULON

(1 confirmed sighting of the female, none of her cub)
The single confirmed sighting of the Toulon Female was with another leopard. Circumstances, however, prevented identification of this animal and it may have been another female or even her recently abandoned son. No matter, the reaction from the Toulon Female was predictably aggressive and the other leopard moved off. The Toulon Female was seen mating towards the beginning of June (7th of June). Should this have been successful, then it could be expected that she would give birth towards the end of September.

JULY 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 18 months

Location: NORTH CENTRAL TOULON

(1 confirmed sighting of the female, several probable sightings of her cub)
The single confirmed sighting of the Toulon Female was rather dramatic and involved her killing a vervet monkey. These small primates are probably good leopard food. However, not wanting to be leopard food, monkeys, upon seeing a leopard, start chattering loudly, harassing the leopard and warning other prey in the area. The chattering of monkeys requires strong will-power from a leopard to control the urge to chase them and the folly of this is usually learned early in life. However, once in a while, a leopard does get lucky and manages to catch a monkey and this is what the Toulon Female managed to do in the thick bush of the southern banks of the Sand River. Upon catching the monkey, she moved rapidly from the area, knowing full well that not only would other prey be alert, but that her competitors, particularly hyaenas, would move into the area to see if they could steal her kill. Fortunately for the Toulon Female there were plenty of trees in the area and the small body of the vervet required no effort to carry into one such tree when some hyaenas did arrive. Last months mating with what is thought to be a new dominant male in the area and the fact that the Toulon Female has not been seen with her son could be an indication that she is pregnant. There has still been no evidence that the Toulon Female wishes to cross back north and east over the Sand River to reclaim territory she held prior to the floods earlier this year. With the Rock Drift Male now in at least part of this region and the Chellahanga Female also casting her movements west, it may well be that the Toulon Female will stay on the southern and western bank.

JUNE 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 17 months

Location: NORTH CENTRAL TOULON

(1 confirmed sighting of the female, none of her cub)
The single sighting of the Toulon Female this month was of her mating with the male leopard which has apparently taken over the territory (or part thereof) once controlled by the late Island Crossing Male. There were no sightings of the cub of the Toulon Female, but, if he is still alive, should be quite capable of taking care of himself. The father of the current cub of the Toulon Female was probably the Island Crossing Male and at one time there was real concern that any new male into the area would seek to kill him in order to mate with the Toulon Female. Since he has probably survived so far to the point where he could quite likely be independent, his chances of making it are looking good.

MAY 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 16 months

Location: NORTH WESTERN TOULON

(1 confirmed sighting of the female, this with her cub)
The single sighting of the Toulon Female and her cub as recorded for this game report happened at the end of April just prior to Kirkmans Camp closing down for renovations. At the time the Sand River was still flowing strongly and the two leopards were on the western side of the watercourse. Although it is unlikely that much will be seen of her or her son over the next few months, it will be interesting to note where she will move to when the river does drop. Since she has over the last few months been spending more time in the area usually the preserve of the Selati Female which at this stage may be away looking after a new litter, she may decide to remain, so forcing out the Selati Female. Incentive for this could come from the fact that a new male leopard has moved into this area and unless he includes part of the eastern side of the Sand River in his territory (the area in the past patrolled by the Toulon Female prior to the big floods), the Toulon Female may be reluctant to venture back.

FEBRUARY/ MARCH/ APRIL 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 15 months

Location: SW CHARLESTON/ NORTH WESTERN TOULON

(5 confirmed sightings of the female, 1 of these with her cub)
Aside from the above encounters, there were at least two other probable sightings of both the Toulon Female and her cub, circumstances simply prevented positive identification. Some months ago when the Island Crossing Male, the father of the son of the Toulon Female, disappeared, it was speculated that whatever new male leopard entered the area would attempt to kill this youngster in order to mate with the female. However, now that this has not happened and the cub is fast approaching the age when he could look after himself, his future looks brighter. The Toulon Female appears to have been caught on the western bank of the Sand River when it came down in flood, which in some ways may have been a good thing. If she was on the other bank, she may have encountered the Rock Drift Male which may have also tried to kill her cub. The Toulon Female has also benefited from the relative absence from this area of the Selati Female and so she has, at least up until now, had a rather easy time in another leopards' territory. It may be that the Selati Female has recently given birth to a new litter of cubs and that these are keeping her close to them, preventing her from fighting off the Toulon Female which is now spending much time in what up until now has been her domain. It will be interesting to see just where the Toulon Female moves to when the Sand River drops and the Selati Female starts to move more freely again. This movement will also depend upon what inroads the Rock Drift Male has made in claiming territory on the eastern bank of the Sand River which was once held by the Island Crossing Male.

JANUARY 2000

TOULON FEMALE
1 MALE CUB * 12 months

Location: SOUTH CENTRAL AND SW CHARLESTON/ WESTERN TOULON

(4 sightings of the female, 1 of these with her cub)

Just as the Chellahanga Female was found at the north western extreme of her range, so the Toulon Female was encountered marking territory at the south eastern periphery of her domain, perhaps even within an area usually regarded as being the exclusive preserve of the Chellahanga Female. At this encounter the border patrol exercise was somewhat interrupted when the Toulon Female was seen catching and killing an adult female Steenbok. With the demise of the Island Crossing Male, the probable father of her year-old male cub, the Toulon Female faces something of a crisis. New male leopards are already making their presence felt in the area and in order to mate with the Toulon Female, may be more than willing to kill off this youngster in order that she comes into oestrus again in as short a time as possible. The next few months will prove very critical for her and her son.

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