The Teardrop female was one of the most successful mother leopards on the concession. Raising four cubs to independence during my time there. She was always a very difficult leopard to find; preferring the denser areas of the reserve where there was plenty of cover to hunt and great hiding places for her cubs.
A mother leopard typically relinquishes territory for her daughters as she finishes raising them, which means that she shifts her territory slightly every time she raises a daughter to independence.
After she left her last litter of cubs, the Teardrop female was never seen again. We can only imagine that she has shifted her territory into an area where we cannot follow.
A mother leopard typically relinquishes territory for her daughters as she finishes raising them, which means that she shifts her territory slightly every time she raises a daughter to independence.
After she left her last litter of cubs, the Teardrop female was never seen again. We can only imagine that she has shifted her territory into an area where we cannot follow.
Teardrop
Mother Leopard
Teardrop
A photograph of this infallible mother at sunset. Her two cubs had already walked past the vehicle and she was watching them go.
A photograph of this infallible mother at sunset. Her two cubs had already walked past the vehicle and she was watching them go.
Mother Leopard
The Teardrop female leads her two cubs to the safety of another dry river bed. When her cubs are still young, she will move them frequently between rocky outcrops, dry river beds, and dense stands of trees to ensure that they are well hidden from other predators.
The two cubs with her here are the River Rocks female (at the back), and her brother, the Mister's Koppies male.
The Teardrop female leads her two cubs to the safety of another dry river bed. When her cubs are still young, she will move them frequently between rocky outcrops, dry river beds, and dense stands of trees to ensure that they are well hidden from other predators.
The two cubs with her here are the River Rocks female (at the back), and her brother, the Mister's Koppies male.
In the Jungle
In the Jungle
One of the first photographs I ever took of the Teardrop female. She had led her cubs to a kill in the canopy of a Jackalberry lining the bank of the river. She left them to feed and climbed onto a fallen over Knobthorn tree. With the light pouring in behind her, and the greenery surrounding her; the scene reminded me of what a leopard sighting in the jungles of India may look like.
One of the first photographs I ever took of the Teardrop female. She had led her cubs to a kill in the canopy of a Jackalberry lining the bank of the river. She left them to feed and climbed onto a fallen over Knobthorn tree. With the light pouring in behind her, and the greenery surrounding her; the scene reminded me of what a leopard sighting in the jungles of India may look like.