May 2010
NGOBOSWAN FEMALE +/- 17 YEARS
NOMADIC
(0 sighting)
It’s with a heavy heart that we write this month’s game report because another of the Mala Mala stalwarts has fallen. The Ngoboswan female hasn’t been seen in over two months and has been presumed dead. The last sighting we had of her was at the beginning of April when she tried to steal scraps from a kill the two Eyrefield lionesses had made. The two lions noticed her and attacked, the leopard managed to escape by crossing the river and we saw her the next morning crossing off our property never to be seen again. She looked in extremely bad condition, skeletally thin and starving and by now must have passed on or made another appearance, so we must presume the worst. By far the most photographed leopard to have walked Mala Mala her life started almost seventeen years ago and has been viewed by thousands of guests over the years. Mother to the most successful family tree, she managed to raise five generations and seven cubs to adulthood all the while holding prime real estate along the sand river in central MalaMala. A large female, golden in colour, and extremely relaxed in nature she allowed us to go with on countless hunts, slipping through the night she would give us a backwards glance if we couldn’t keep up, patiently showing us her cubs generation after generation and entrusting us with their safety as she went off to hunt. Allowing us to witness the unique spectacle of mating and keeping in us awed silence at the rasping power of her call. The Ngoboswan female has gone but her life will be remembered long into the future through those fortunate enough to share some of it with her, capturing it on photo or film to preserve for ever more a life well spent. To the Ngoboswan female we salute you and bid you farewell may you rest in peace.
April 2010
NGOBOSWAN FEMALE +/- 17 YEARS
NOMADIC
(1 sighting)
This old female was only seen once during the report period and it was a sighting where she nearly lost her life. When found she was in an extremely emaciated condition and she had just lost a kill that she had made to hyenas. After avoiding the hyenas she made her way down into the Sand River where she had an encounter with the Eyrefield lionesses. It was believed that she was killed as no one could see what happened in the thick reeds. On inspection later it was shown that she had got away as there were female leopard tracks leading westwards away from the area. As old as she is this female still seems to have a little wit about her. Later on in the day she was seen moving westwards off the property. That was at the beginning of the report period and it was the last time that she was seen.
March 2010
NGOBOSWAN FEMALE +/- 17 YEARS
NOMADIC
(3sightings)
This legend of Mala is still hanging on; she has left her old territory along the river and is now often seen on the old airstrip and northwards towards main camp. She is looking healthy enough to not be a concern, her movement seems fluid and her coat is still in good condition. She hasn’t been seen on a kill in many weeks, which is concern but if she is scavenging she seems to be doing it well. Towards the end of the month she disappeared and hasn’t been seen in almost two weeks now, let’s hope the worst hasn’t happened yet.
Ngoboswan Female - Photographed by Andrew Bachelor February 2010
NGOBOSWAN FEMALE +/- 17 YEARS
NOMADIC
(7sightings)
This legend of Mala Mala is still hanging on; she has left her old territory along the river and is now often seen on the old airstrip and northwards towards main camp. She is looking healthy enough to not be a concern, her movement seems fluid and her coat is still in good condition. She hasn’t been seen on a kill in many weeks, which is concern but if she is scavenging she seems to be doing it well. Towards the end of the month she disappeared and hasn’t been seen in almost two weeks now, lets hope the worst hasn’t happened yet.
January 2010
NGOBOSWAN FEMALE +/- 16 ½ YEARS
SOUTHWESTERN MALAMALA, NORTHWESTERN FLOCKFIELD
(6 sightings)
She has officially lost her territory, she was only found once this month within her former range and that was when she had a nasty interaction with the son of the Dudley female. The young male picked up her scent and followed to where she was lying. When he discovered the Ngoboswan female he attacked her, the female defended herself and thankfully the young male quickly decided she wasn’t worth the risk and left her alone. The rest of the sightings of this old female were up around main camp, this part of Mala Mala did at one stage belong to her but she gave it up for her daughter the Kikilezi female. all sightings of the female had in good condition but she is fading fast, so we will just have to wait and see what happens.
