June 2005

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE         * 11 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 MALE CUB                               * 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS

There were no sightings of the White Cloth Female at all in June, but her independent son was seen on four occasions, all in the vicinity of Mlowathi Dam, on northern Eyrefield. On two occasions, this young male leopard was seen to interact with the Campbell Koppies Female, and these interactions were certainly not friendly. On the first of these two occasions, the son of the White Cloth Female was seen to pursue the Campbell Koppies Female for a good half an hour, while she did her best to shake him off. She had led her cubs to a kill, and it was possible that she was doing her best to keep the young male leopard away from her cubs. Then two days later, the Campbell Koppies Female and the son of the White Cloth Female were seen together again, stationary at Mlowathi Dam. There was much tension between the two, with the greater aggression being shown by the female leopard. When the two were first seen together, the son of the White Cloth Female had a fresh gash on his rump, but it is not known whether this was inflicted by the Campbell Koppies Female or not.

The son of the White Cloth Female has grown into a good-sized leopard already, and it will be interesting to see if he manages to eventually establish himself somewhere on Mala Mala land.

As for the White Cloth Female herself, who knows what has become of her? It is possible that she is spending most of her time to the north of the reserve, occupying land that used to “belong” to the late Hlabatini Female. She has, in the recent past, also been seen to go east into the Kruger Park, south of Clarendon Dam.

May 2005

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE         * 11 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 MALE CUB                               * 2 YEARS 2 MONTHS
Location: EYREFIELD / MALA MALA
(1 sighting of the female on her own, 5 sightings of the cub on his own)

Although the White Cloth Female herself was only seen on one occasion in May, her son was seen five times, and provided some good viewing. Undoubtedly the most interesting sighting involving this young leopard took place when he and an even younger male (son of the late Hlabatini Female), had a fight in a tree, near Mlowathi Dam on Eyrefield. The son of the White Cloth Female, being a few months older, had the upper hand in this brief conflict. So fiery was the exchange, that it attracted a lioness to the base of the tree. And so focussed was the son of the White Cloth Female on his fight, that he did not notice the lioness approaching, and he descended the tree, only to bound straight back up its branches again, when he saw the lioness closing in on him!

At 26 months, the son of the White Cloth Female is certainly able to look after himself, and where ever he goes in his nomadic years, he will be recognised by his kinked tail!

April 2005

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE           * 11 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 MALE CUB                                * 2 YEARS 1 MONTH
Location: EYREFIELD / MALA MALA
(4 sightings of the female, one of them being with her cub; 2 sightings of the cub on his own)

The White Cloth Female and her son are spending less and less time together, and the youngster is certainly old enough to take care of himself now. It is likely that a permanent split will take place in the next couple of months. On the one occasion when the female and her son were seen together, they moved eastwards into the Kruger Park, near the northern end of the reserve. When the youngster was seen alone, he provided entertaining viewing, and was followed on the hunt twice in broad daylight.

The White Cloth Female was found one morning, having just killed an adult male impala. Hyenas had heard the distress call, however, and had run in to steal the kill. There were four hyenas present, and they devoured much of the carcass in quick time. The White Cloth Female looked on from a tree as the hyenas fed, but later descended the tree, and followed the hyenas cautiously when one of them started to move off with the remains of the carcass. Patience is a virtue, and perseverance also pays, and the White Cloth Female was able to reclaim the impala head, neck and spinal column from the hyenas. She wasted no time in taking these remains up a tree, and was able to secure sufficient flesh to keep herself in food for two days. She did not share this kill with her cub.

March 2005

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE         * 11 YEARS 6 MONTHS
1 MALE CUB                               * 24 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD / MALA MALA
(2 sighting of the female, one of them being with her cub; 2 sightings of the cub on his own)

It is hard to believe that the son of the White Cloth Female is already two years old! He is quite capable of looking after himself now, and the time of parting company with mother must be approaching. With his prominently kinked tail, the young male leopard is quite unmistakeable. He is a relaxed individual, and usually provides entertaining viewing when found. His mother is getting on in years, but is still doing well, even though her territory has shifted greatly over the last few years. She certainly still has it in her to raise another litter of cubs. Perhaps in the next couple of months, she’ll be seen mating with the Newington Male!