The Tengile female leopard is a treasure of andBeyond Kirkman's Kamp and andBeyond Tengile River Lodge.
Named after the lodge near which she was born, as a cub she spent much of her youth investigating the lodge grounds and caused many a stir.
The juxtaposition of humans and animals has long been a source of heated discussion in conservation. In so many instances there need to be physical barriers of separation, and living in harmony is difficult to achieve. The Tengile female reminded us that humans and wild animals can peacefully co-exist if we respect their strength and boundaries. andBeyond Tengile River Lodge continues to serve as a haven for this leopard as she begins to consolidate herself as a dominant female leopard within the area.
Named after the lodge near which she was born, as a cub she spent much of her youth investigating the lodge grounds and caused many a stir.
The juxtaposition of humans and animals has long been a source of heated discussion in conservation. In so many instances there need to be physical barriers of separation, and living in harmony is difficult to achieve. The Tengile female reminded us that humans and wild animals can peacefully co-exist if we respect their strength and boundaries. andBeyond Tengile River Lodge continues to serve as a haven for this leopard as she begins to consolidate herself as a dominant female leopard within the area.
Youth is Bliss
Youth is Bliss
Life is not easy for animals in the wild. The seemingly insurmountable challenge of raising your youngsters to adulthood is always looming large.
Yet, the youngsters always seem to find a way to make light of the situation, allowing their guardians to do the panicking and the hard yards.
For me, this pose embodies the blissfulness, and abandonment of youth. The state of mind in a young leopard when life is still easy and she does not have to worry about looking after herself.
It is definitely one of my favourite images that I ever captured of the beautiful Tengile female.
Life is not easy for animals in the wild. The seemingly insurmountable challenge of raising your youngsters to adulthood is always looming large.
Yet, the youngsters always seem to find a way to make light of the situation, allowing their guardians to do the panicking and the hard yards.
For me, this pose embodies the blissfulness, and abandonment of youth. The state of mind in a young leopard when life is still easy and she does not have to worry about looking after herself.
It is definitely one of my favourite images that I ever captured of the beautiful Tengile female.
Safety in numbers
Bewilderment
Safety in numbers
Watching a leopard grow in a leopardess is a magical experience. You get to watch them try and fail, and learn along the way.
In this moment, the Tengile female, still a cub, was walking with her mother as a herd of impala noisely blasted their alarm calls.
Impala usually use their alarm call to tell a predator they have spotted it, and the expected result is that their enemy will give up and move on.
The young leopard paused, and stubbornly decided to walk straight toward the herd of bewildered impala. The confused antelope frantically snorted as the leopard neared them, and then suddenly scattered as they realised their efforts to deter the predator were futile.
Watching a leopard grow in a leopardess is a magical experience. You get to watch them try and fail, and learn along the way.
In this moment, the Tengile female, still a cub, was walking with her mother as a herd of impala noisely blasted their alarm calls.
Impala usually use their alarm call to tell a predator they have spotted it, and the expected result is that their enemy will give up and move on.
The young leopard paused, and stubbornly decided to walk straight toward the herd of bewildered impala. The confused antelope frantically snorted as the leopard neared them, and then suddenly scattered as they realised their efforts to deter the predator were futile.
Bewilderment in black and white
The impala finally realise that they need to move, or be caught.
It is difficult to know exactly why the Tengile female approached them.
She may have simply been annoyed by the chorus of snorting and known that if she approached they would scatter and make for the hills.
Perhaps she was genuinely learning something about hunting, and the proximity (and anonymity) required to effect a successful hunt.
The impala finally realise that they need to move, or be caught.
It is difficult to know exactly why the Tengile female approached them.
She may have simply been annoyed by the chorus of snorting and known that if she approached they would scatter and make for the hills.
Perhaps she was genuinely learning something about hunting, and the proximity (and anonymity) required to effect a successful hunt.