WHITE CLOTH FEMALE

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White Cloth Female and cub - Photograph by ranger John Gold

December 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE             * 13 YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 CUB

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(1 sighting of female alone, 0 of female with her cub, 0 of cub without mother)

The White Cloth Female was seen early on during the report period, hunting impala near the Old Borehole, but there was no sign of the cub. After hunting, the female leopard moved northwards into a neighbouring reserve. This behaviour is consistent with previous months – it appears that The White Cloth Female now spends most of her time off Mala Mala, and only ventures onto our property occasionally. The cub of the White Cloth Female was not seen during the report period.

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November 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE             * 13 YEARS 2 MONTHS
1 CUB

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(1 sighting of female alone, 2 of female with her cub, 0 of cub without mother)

Over the previous two years it has become normal to see less and less of the female leopard that once formed the backbone of leopard viewing on Mala Mala. It still seems that the White Cloth Female occupies a territory in the north central parts of Eyrefield, as it was in this region that she was seen during the game report period. Her cub appears to be in fine health, and is relaxed around vehicles. The best sighting of the month involved a hunting situation close to the northern boundary of Mala Mala. The White Cloth Female managed to catch an impala, but then lost grip of the antelope as both animals fell to the ground, and the terrified impala managed to make a hasty escape.

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October 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE             * 13 YEARS 1 MONTH
1 CUB

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD

(0 sighting)

There were no sightings of the White Cloth Female during the October report period.

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September 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE             * 13 YEARS
1 CUB

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(0 sighting)

There were no confirmed sightings of the White Cloth Female during this report period.

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August 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE             * 12 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 CUB

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD
(0 sighting)

There were no confirmed sightings of the White Cloth Female during this report period.

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July 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE             * 12 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 CUB

NORTHERN EYREFIELD

(1 sighting)

White Cloth Female and cub - Photograph by ranger John Gold

The White Cloth Female made a welcome return to Mala Mala during July. She was found in the upper reaches of the Matshapiri, and had a young cub with her. The cub looked to be around 8 months old or so, and was very relaxed in the presence of the Landrovers. The leopards were viewed for the entire day when found, and ambled northwards. The White Cloth Female appeared rather distressed at times, and called repeatedly, as if calling for another cub. Reports from our northern neighbours were that the White Cloth Female had two cubs, but goodness knows where the other cub is. In any case, the two leopards headed back northwards over the Mala Mala boundary late in the evening.

White Cloth Female and cub - Photograph by ranger John Gold

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May / June 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE   * 12 YEARS 9 MONTHS

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD

(0 sightings)

The White Cloth Female was not seen during the month of May. This old stalwart of MalaMala is greatly missed, but the good news is that she is doing very well. Reports from our neighbours to our north is that she has a litter of cubs, and periodically crosses back into MalaMala with them in and near the Matshapiri River system. She certainly knows that area very well, having raised two successive litters of cubs in this area. Time will tell if she continues southwards with them, to try and help them to a start in life by abandoning some of her old territory to them.

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March / April 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE *12 YEARS 7 MONTHS

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD

(0 sightings)

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February 2006

WHITE CLOTH FEMALE *12 YEARS 5 MONTHS

Location: NORTHERN EYREFIELD

(1 sighting)

This popular old female leopard was seen only once in February, but it is always a pleasure to see her. She was seen on the upper reaches of the Matshapiri River , actively hunting impala. Although she never caught anything, it is always exciting to watch this seasoned expert hunt. Eventually, she moved east into the Kruger National Park . Word from the property to the north of Mala Mala is that she has a litter of cubs not far north of Clarendon Dam. This would also explain her limited presence on Mala Mala, as she will be very much bound to the area where her cubs are concealed, until they are older. Hopefully, she will move her cubs further south in due course, and we can again have frequent viewing of this stalwart of Mala Mala.

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January 2006