And now today after receiving such great news about Sindile being released back into the wild in the Sabi Sands, that I feel its time to create a page devoted to these amazing animals.
This page is in no way a complete story of all of the leopards in the Sabi Sands. There are far more then I even know about.
So what I have done, is I have taken a few from my list to create this page so that each of you can get to know then a bit better and understand their connections to one another.
I hope you find it interesting. If I have made any errors, please let me know and I will make the necessary corrections and if you have any other information regarding any of the Leopards, please post me a message and I will add it to the page.
This page will be continually updated as more information is gathered and more sightings happen.
They are in Alphabetical order. (Not in order of importance because they are each important)
Many of the photos on his page were from various sources such as Facebook, EP rangers, Nkorho etc and for that I am thankful for the amazing photos.
So lets get started
Leopard Name: Anderson
Meaning:
Gender: Male
Age of Birth Year:
Mother: Matshapiri female Born October 2000
Father: Emsagwen Male Born March 2003 (deceased)
Spot Pattern: 3:3
Offspring:
Possibly 2 cubs (February 2016) with Karula
Possibly 2 cubs (March 2016) with Shadow
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| Anderson Male- Credit to Neil Coetzer |
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| Anderson Male -Credit To Dawie Jacobs |
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| Anderson Male -Credit EP Rangers May 24 |
Leopard Name: Gijima
Meaning: Zulu for Swift Runner
Gender : Male
Age or Birth Year: 2011
Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Spot Pattern: 3:3
Other identifying features: Notched right ear. Paler dots between the 2st and 2nd rows of whiskers on each sides. He is a 3 (above first whisker row) on his right side and seems to have 2 (maybe 3) on his left side. Nose: Black
Typical Territory: Buffleshoek. Has also been seen in Arathusa and Djuma.
Offspring:
possibly 2 cubs (Feb 2016) with Karula
possibly 2 cubs (March 2016) with Shadow
April 14, 2016
Brent Leo Smith Habituates Gijima
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| Gijima |
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| Gijima |
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| Gijima |
Leopard Name : Hosana
Meaning: Little Prince, Little Chief
Gender: Male
Other Names: previously known as George
Birth: February 2, 2016
Spot Pattern- 3:3
Mother: Karula
Father: Tingana, Anderson Male, Mvula, or Gijima
Siblings: Xongile (previously known as Charlotte
Sept 27, 2016
Hosana (Karula's Male Cub) on sunset drive with Jamie Paterson.
Less then 1 week away from his 8 month birthday (born February 02, 2016)
Less then 1 week away from his 8 month birthday (born February 02, 2016)
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| Hosana- (previously known as George) |
Hosana Finishing His Supper
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| Credit for Photo Creation- Crystal Safari |
Leopard Name: Karula
Meaning: Peaceful in shangaan
Gender: Female
Age or Birth year: March 15, 2004
Mother: Safari Female
Father: Old Gowrie Make (AKA Mafufunyane Male 1998-late 2011)
Siblings:
Kwatile (AKA: Maliliwane Female) same father
Matimba (AKA: Fountains Tom Male) March 15, 2004
Tshembe Female (deceased 2006 at 2 years of age)
Spot Pattern: 3:4
Other Identifying Features: Has the word WOW on her foreheard between her eyes. On the right side, there is a spiral coming down from the inside corner of her eye and back. On the left side, there is a line of spots on her nose. Has a "necklace" pattern around her neck.
Typical Territory: Djuma and Arathusa
Offspring:
3 litters with Jordans Male (AKA Yambilu0 Jordan)
Shadow Female 2007 by Old Gowrie Male (AKA Mafufunyane Male late 1998-late 2011)
Thandi (AKA Saseka) 2007 by Old Gowrie Male (AKA Mafunyane Male late 1998-late 2011)
Induna Male- November 2008 (deceased) by Jordans Male
Mixo Male- November 2008 by Jordans Male
Xivambalana Male: September 2010 By Jordans Male (deceased end of July 2912)
Xivindzi Female: September 2010 by Jordans Male (deceased end of July 2012) likely died in the floods of 2012
Quarantine: Make (AKA Q-Male) December 2012 by Mvula
Kunyuma Male: December 2012 by Mvula
1 very young cub taken by Hyenas December 2012
2 cubs born February 2, 2016- (named Hosana- Male and Xongile -Female --Father- Tingana, Anderson, Mvula, Gijima
June 7, 2016 update on cubs- Female is a 4:3 spot pattern and Male is a 3:3 spot pattern
Sept 27, 2016
During Sunset Drive with Jamie Paterson
Karula shows us that she is indeed a wild animal.
She shows her crankiness directed not at Jamie's presence but at another vehicle who was too close for Karula's comfort zone
Karula's Male Cub
5 Months Old
June 30, 2016
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| Safari (Mother) with Karula (cub) |
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| Karula with new cubs May, 2015. credit to Brent Leo Smith |
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| Karula |
Karula Stalks and Executes The Perfect Kill
2011-05-07
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| Karula |
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| Karula with cub April 26 |
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| Karula and cubs April 26 |
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| Karula- May 29 Sunset Safari live Drive |
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| Karula- May 29 Sunset Safari live Drive |
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| Karula- May 29 Sunset Safari live Drive |
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| Karula- May 29 Sunset Safari live Drive |
Karula's Male Cub- June 2016
Leopard Name: Kunyuma
Meaning: Shy
Gender: Male
Spot Pattern:
Age Or Birth Year: December 2012
Mother: Karula
Father: Mvula
Sibling: Quarantine Male
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| May 13, 2016 Londolozi |
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| Feb 7 2016- Cheetah Plains Reserve |
Leopard Name: Inkanyeni
Gender: Female
Age of Birth Year: 2006
Mother: Beacon Female (deceased- Date unknown)
Father: Jordans Male (AKA Yambilu-Jordaan) Deceased end of July 2012
Siblings:
Spot Pattern: 4:4
Other Identifying Features:
Offspring:
2 cubs
Inkanyenis Cubs Playing June 04, 2016 Part 1
Inkanyeni's Cubs Playing June 04, 2016 Part 2
Inkanyeni Part 1 Sunset Drive- June 02, 2016
Inkanyeni Part 2- Sunset Drive- June 02, 2016
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| Inkanyeni -May 6 Credit Nkorho Bush Lodge |
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| Inkanyeni Cub- May 7 |
Click Link Below To View Video
Click Link Below To View Video
Inkanyeni Sunset Drive June 1 with Brent Leo Smith
Leopard Name: Mvula
AKA: Thlebe Rocks Male, AKA Leadwood Male
Meaning: Rain (He was first spotted in a tree during a heavy downpour in Elephant Plains
Gender: Male
Age or Birth Year: 2005 in lion Sands
Mother: Outcrop Female of Lion Sands
Father: Tumbela Male (AKA Beaumont Male)
Siblings:
Tosova Male (2005)
Mbavala Male (half brother)
Spot Pattern: 4:3
Typical Territory: Mala Mala. Seen around the eastern parts of the Mlowathi River, extending to Matshipiri Dam of Buffalo Bush Dam, Cheetah Plains, Torchwood and Buffleshoek and Djuma.
Offspring:
Torchwood Male (December 2010) by Inkanyeni
Son of Thandi (AKA Wabayiza) November 2010 by Thandi
Buhuti Male (November 2012) by Thandi Female
Quarantine Male (2012) by Karula
very possible Tsakani, daughter of Kwatile 2013
possibly unnamed daughter of Thandi 2014
Xiluva and Makombo, offspring if Inkanyeni
August 18, 2016
Mvula Pounces and Kills A Warthog
VERY GRAPHIC
Not For Sensitive Viewers
July 15, 2016- Mating with Xiluva
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| Mvula- July 15- Sunrise Drive |
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| Mvula Mating with Xivula- Sunrise Drive July 15 |
June 24, 2016 Sunset Drive
Mvula June 12, 2016
Up Close With Mvula
June 12, 2016
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| Mvula |
Mvula Detonates Zebra
June 30, 2015
Filmed By Richard Malcom
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| Mvula -EP RANGERS |
Leopard Name: Nchila
AKA:
Gender: Female
Meaning: Tail
Age Or Birth Year: January/February 2014
Mother: Nsele
Father: Anderson Male
Siblings: One Sister
Spot Pattern: 4:5
Typical Territory :
Offspring:
Sept 03, 2016
Sunset Drive
With James Hendry
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| James Richard Was Kind Enough To Outline Important Markings Sept 03, 2016 |
Leopard Name: Nsele
AKA:
Gender: Female
Meaning: Ruthless or No Sympathy
Age Or Birth Year: 2009
Mother: Salayexe
Father: Tyson
Siblings: Rhulani (male)
Spot Pattern: 4:3
Typical Territory :
Offspring: Nchila (Jan/Feb 2014)
Leopard Name: Quarantine
AKA: Q- Male
Gender: Male
Meaning: Named for the area he frequented
Age Or Birth Year: December 2012
Mother: Karula (march 2004)
Father: Mvula (2005)
Siblings:
Kunyuma Male (December 2012) Same Mother And Father
Shadow Female (2007) Same Mother
Thandi Female (2007) Same Mother
Induna Male (Nov 2008- Now deceased)
Mixo Male (Nov 2008- Same Mother
Xivambalana Male (Sept 2010) Same Mother
Xivindzi Female (Sept 2010- July 2012 ) Same Mother
Spot Pattern:
Typical Territory :
Offspring:
Quarantine- Cheetah Plains Game Reserve- July 23, 2016
Quarantine- Cheetah Plains- Sunset Drive- July 16, 2016
Sunrise Drive- July 8, 2016
Quarantine In A Standoff with Xivambalana
Quarantine Takes Down A Warthog
July 01, 2016
On Cheetah Plains
Quarantine- Sunrise Drive June 22, 2016 with Brent Leo Smith
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| Quarantine |
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| Quarantine |
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| Quarantine |
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| Quarantine |
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| Quarantine -Credit Brent Leo Smith |
Leopard Name: Salayexe
Meaning: The Only One
Gender: Female
Age or Birth Year: 2005
Mother: Old Saseka(sister to Safari)
Father:
Siblings:
Nyeleti Male
Littermate died at 3 months
Spot Pattern: 4:3
Offspring:
Nsele Female (March 2009)
Rhulani Male (March 2009)
2 cubs (feb 2011-May 2011)
Cubs deceased Dec 2011
Female Cub (August 2011-July 2013) killed by Hyenas
2 cubs March 2014- May 2014) Both killed by a male Leopard
1 Cub-May 2015- Info below named Tiyani
So the time has finally come what every guide around our traversing has waited for. EP Rangers have finally given Salayexe, the female leopards little blue eyed princess a name. Normally a name will only be given if the cub survived one of the most crucial stages. Leopards have an extremely high mortality rate due to many circumstances! New dominant male leopards, lions and also hyena that’s plentiful in our traversing area.
So far Salayexe has done extremely well in raising this youngster! We went with the name Tiyani which means the strong one. We thought the name was very fitting. She has truly proved her bravery as we watched her grow up into a beautiful young female.
Salayexe, the female leopard is eleven years of age and through the years she had 8 different litters of cubs. Unfortunately, only one of these litters survived. The twins! The all mighty Rhulani and the beautiful Nsele.
Tiyani would be the second to survive! I really don’t think that Salayexe has bad maternal instincts in any way. She just had bad luck these past view years due to a number of reasons. New dominant male taking over territory, unwanted hyenas and one litter was even lost due to rather bad floods in the area.
The name Tiyani really suits her personality and the fact that she would be the first to survive in six litters. We are confident that she was sired by the all mighty Anderson male and she definitely takes after him.
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| Sunset Drive- July 24, 2016 |
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| Sunset Drive- July 24, 2016 |
July 15, 2016- Sunset Drive With Brent Leo Smith |
| Salayexe May 2 credit to Dawie Jacobs EP Ranger |
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| Salayexe- Sunset Drive- Arathusa May 15 |
Leopard Name: Shadow
Gender: Female
Meaning: Shy One
Age or Birth Year: 2007
Mother: Karula (March 2004)
Father: Old Gowrie Male
Characteristic Observations; Neat V notch on Right ear, 2 distinct necklaces,
Siblings:
Thandi (same Mother and Father)
Induna Male (nov 2008- - Same Mother and Father)
Mixo Male (Nov 2008) Same Mother
Xivambalana Male (sept 2010) Same Mother
Xivindzi Female (Sept 2010-July 2012) Same Mother
Quarantine Male (AKA Q-Male) Dec 2012- Same Mother
Kunyuma Male (Dec 2012)- Same Mother
Xongile (Male) (Feb 02, 2016) Same Mother
Hosana (Female) (Feb 02, 2016) Same Mother
Spot Pattern:
Typical Territory: Djuma, Arathusa and Cheetah Plains
Offspring:
First litter- 2010. Neither cub survived a year.
Second litter- Late 2011 or early 2012. Did not survive past 1 year
Third litter- August 2014. 2 bus, 1 deceased at early age.
Sindile Male (August 2014) was originally named Madiba but name was rescinded due to lack of agreement among the Rangers who felt it was disrespectful to Nelson Mandela
2 cubs born March 10, 2016- Father Tingana, Anderson Male or Mvula
1 cub confirmed deceased May 2016
Sunrise Drive Aug 4, 2016
Sunrise Drive- Aug 4, 2016
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| One of Shadows recent cubs |
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| Shadow |
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| Shadow |
Interesting facts: Rarely puts kills into trees. Her year old cub Sindile caught a domestic dog mid September 201. The dog was shot and killed and tested positive for rabies. Sindile was taken into a Quarantine facility for vaccinations and monitoring. News as of today May 26, 2016 is that Sindile has been released back into the wild of Sabi Sands with a collar for additional monitoring.
Leopard Name: Sindile
AKA: Madiba but name was rescinded due to lack or agreements among the rangers who felt it was disrespectful to Nelson Mandela
Gender: male
Age or Birth year : 2014
Mother:
Father:
NOTE: Caught a wild dog in September 2015 and was taken to a Quarantine facility for vaccinations and monitoring. New as of today May 26th is that Sindile has been released back into the wild of Sabi Sands. Equipped with a collar for continued monitoring.
August 12, 2016- Update From Gerrie Camacho
Hallo Everybody! Sindile aka The Wanderer, is once again up to some of his interesting exploration stints, seemingly!
He is still showing that highly active erratic mobility and it could be due to various reasons. We unfortunately are making these observations in a period of drought and lots of dynamics in the weather and prey animal patterns. Added to that environmental spices we are dealing with a dispersing male leopard whom have been in captivity and out of the system for a very crucial part of his growing up and life-experiences part of his life!
Within all of this I believe he is instinctively doing what any male leopard of his age would have been doing at this stage, but we can only speculate with a "professional Guess"!
We are dealing with the typical "Push/Pull Effects" influencing his behaviour at this stage. I will be willing to state it has nothing to do with female and hormonal things except maybe that he might be showing certain chemical and presence behaviour which might be placing more pressure on him from more adult males. it could just as well be pure environmental circumstances!
On the map the last point for the 11th is not included as his collar only downloaded that point, which is crucial in this discussion, this morning! The last point showed him covering at minimum of 12km's in a straight line. This is the longest distance he has covered thus far in a 24 hour period! He moved south across Londo, Dudley, Umkumbe Lodge and was near Nottens Lodge in a drainage line. This is also some typical behaviour I have sen in these cats, making use of drainage lines, especially when dispersing or moving from one core area to the next. Certain individuals very seldom move far away from drainage lines!
In my opinion he is looking to avoid conflict most of the time and it seems he is not spending time on big prey species, even though he might be making large prey kills. at this stage he will be in serious competition with lion, spotted hyena and other larger male leopard.
He is very mobile and active and should be shedding some more baby fat and most probably loose some weight. this does not mean that he wont still be very effective and competitive in the survival game.
lets see what he is up to and i hope the collar still last long enough!
Sindele's Collar Continues to Send Data Although Infrequently
These maps (pings) Show Sindile on Arathusa July 17, 2016
June 24, 2016- Sunrise Drive
June 16 Sunrise Drive
With James And Brent
On Djuma
Sindile Story Part 1
Sindile Story Part 2
Sindile Story Part 3
Link to Public Statement regarding Sindile's release
June 03, 2016 Sindile Update- Text Thanks to Gerrie Camacho
Sindile seems to have found a temporary refuge just North of the Sand River. He shows a lot of daytime activity which is not uncommon for this age male or either for the time of the year. It is also typical for dispersing Leopards of his age. All in all he seems to have slotted in well and fairly normal at this point and time.
See dots of his movement on below map
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| Sindile- Credit to Scott Dyson |
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| Sindile- Sept 1 |
Leopard Name: Thandi
AKA: Nontshemeni Female (malamala)
Meaning: Beautiful
Gender: Female
Age or Birth Year: 2007
Mother: Karula
Father: Old Gowrie Male
Siblings:
Shadow Female (2007) Same Mother
Induna Male (Nov 2008- Now deceased- Same Mother
Mixo Male (Nov 2008) Same Mother
Xivambalana Male (Sept 2010) Same Mother
Xivindzi Female (Sept 2010-July2012) Same Mother
Quarantine Male (AKA Q-Male) Dec 2012- Same Mother
Kunyuma Male (Dec 2012) Same Mother
Spot Pattern: 3:3
Typical Territory: Eastern Djuma and MalaMala
Offspring:
First litter- Aug 2012
1 female killed by Styx pride at 8 weeks old
Bahuti Male (Aug 2012)
Second litter- Sept 2014
1 male cub (not named) Deceased early
1 female cub (not named) by Mvula
Thandi -Sunrise Drive- July 02, 2016
Thandi- Sunset Drive- June 02, 2016
note: spotted May 24, 2016 on Cheetah Plains reserve thanks to Andrew Khosa
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| Thandi -April 6, v2016 Mating With Tingana |
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| Thandi Mating with Tingana April 6, 2016 |
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| Thandi |
Leopard Name: Tingana
Meaning: Shy
Gender: Male
Age or Birth Year: 2006 on lion Sands
Mother:
Father:
Siblings:
Spot Pattern: 5:5
Identifying Features: has a very distinct oblique line of spots on his forehead from one eye to the other.
Typical Territory: Mostly seen around Simbambili Game Reserve and has wandered on occasion to Elephant Plains and Arathusa.
Offspring:
Sindile (Aug 2014 ) with Shadow
2 six month old cubs (deceased) with Kwatile (deceased Feb 2016)
2 female cubs (early March 2016) with Shadow
2 cubs (Early Feb 2016) with Karula
Tingana Sunset Drive With Brent Leo Smith June 13, 2016
Tingana Sunset Drive With Jamie Paterson June 01, 2016
Tingana Against The Backdrop Of The Lilac Sky
With Jamie Paterson Sunset Drive June 01, 2016
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| Tingana |
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| Tingana -April 6 |
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| Tingana -April 6 |
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| Tingana- April 6 |
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| Tingana- April 6 |
Leopard Name: Tiyani
Gender: Female
Age or Birth Year: May 2015
Mother: Salayexe
Father: Possibly Anderson Male
Spot Pattern: 3:3
Leopard Name: Tsakani
Gender: Female
Age or Birth Year: October- November 2013
Mother: Kwatile (Oct 2007-Feb/March 2016)
Father: New Gowrie Male AKA Lamula or Mvula
Siblings:
2 cubs with Tingana deceased 2016 (same Mother)
Spot Pattern:
Typical Territory:
Offspring:
None as of April 2016
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| Tsakani- April 2016 credit to Brent Leo Smith |
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| Tsakani |
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 2005
Mother: Beacon Female
Father:
Spot Pattern: 3:3
Siblings: Inkanyeni
Territory: Northern Tip of Karula's Territory. From Sydneys Dam and up into Buffleshoek.
Mvula and Xiluva Mating July 15, Sunrise Drive
Leopard Name: Xivambalana
Gender: Male
Birth Year: Sept 2010
Mother: Karula
Father: Jordans Male
Siblings:
Quarantine
Kunyuma
Spot Pattern: 2:3
Note: Did mate with Inkanyeni 2016
Sunrise Drive-July 8, 2016
Xivambalana In A Standoff With Quarantine
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| Xivambalana |
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| Xivambalana |
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| Xivambalana |
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| Xivambalana |
Leopard Name : Xongile
Meaning:Exquisitely Beautiful
Gender: Female
Other Names: previously known as Charlotte
Birth: February 2, 2016
Spot Pattern- 4:3
Mother: Karula
Father: Tingana, Anderson Male, Mvula, or Gijima
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| Photo Creation Credit To Crystal Safari |
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Xongile- Previously known as Charlotte |
Xongile Gets Down From The Tree
Karula (mom) resting While Xongile Eats
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