This young female leopard takes the title as one of the most beautiful leopards I ever had the privilege of photographing. She is the daughter of the Teardrop female, and fathered by the Split Rock male. Her brother, from the same litter, is now known as the Mister's Koppies male.
River Rocks female
River Rocks female
I will never forget the day I took this photograph. It was a gorgeous winter's day during the lockdown 2020, and the sun was beginning its downward arc.
Racing home, I chanced a glance toward a termite mound where I always imagined I would one day see a leopard and I ground the vehicle to a shuddering stop because there was one!
There she was: the River Rocks female. She looked at me disdainfully as the dust from my rushed braking began to settle, then she turned to face west once more.
The leopardess was poised majestically looking over an open clearing with the last light of the setting sun illuminating her pensive face.
After I had taken this image, I put the camera down and just watched; taking in the entire scene. Moments like this one will last a lifetime.
I will never forget the day I took this photograph. It was a gorgeous winter's day during the lockdown 2020, and the sun was beginning its downward arc.
Racing home, I chanced a glance toward a termite mound where I always imagined I would one day see a leopard and I ground the vehicle to a shuddering stop because there was one!
There she was: the River Rocks female. She looked at me disdainfully as the dust from my rushed braking began to settle, then she turned to face west once more.
The leopardess was poised majestically looking over an open clearing with the last light of the setting sun illuminating her pensive face.
After I had taken this image, I put the camera down and just watched; taking in the entire scene. Moments like this one will last a lifetime.
Daughter of Teardrop
Sitting, waiting, wishing
Daughter of Teardrop
On this particular morning we ventured to Mister's Koppies, the rocky outcrop where the Teardrop female had been keeping her cubs, and found the leopardess and her two youngsters playing among the granite boulders.
On this particular morning we ventured to Mister's Koppies, the rocky outcrop where the Teardrop female had been keeping her cubs, and found the leopardess and her two youngsters playing among the granite boulders.
Sitting, waiting, wishing
Another picture of the River Rocks female when she was a cub of 10 months old. She was waiting patiently with her brother for their mother's return.
As leopard cubs get older, their mother spends less time with them. She will still hunt for them, and lead them to kills, but her patience begins to wear thin, and eventually at around 18months the cubs will be left to fend for themselves. They are solitary cats after all.
Another picture of the River Rocks female when she was a cub of 10 months old. She was waiting patiently with her brother for their mother's return.
As leopard cubs get older, their mother spends less time with them. She will still hunt for them, and lead them to kills, but her patience begins to wear thin, and eventually at around 18months the cubs will be left to fend for themselves. They are solitary cats after all.