Raising Two Orphaned Leopard Cubs

One of the most special aspects to my job here in South Africa, is having the opportunity to work with Tia and Zaro – two exceptional leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs that were captured and abandoned by their mother as infants.

Although it is a delight for me to have developed such a relationship with two leopard cubs – it is an extremely sad story of how they ended up at Tshukudu Game Reserve…..

Again, it comes down to farmers and their need for protecting livestock. I want to point out here that I do understand that farmers have to protect their living – we all guard our homes, possessions, and livelihoods, but it does not have to come at the cost of endangering some of the most beautiful animals to walk this earth!

In this particular incident the farmer feared that his livestock was in danger and so trapped the leopards on his land – this happens more often than not in this part of the world unfortunately. As it happened, the two leopard cubs were left within the trap as the mother scarpered and abandoned both cubs! My mother probably thought of doing that numerous times with my brother and I, but fortunately she put up with us!

At this age, with their paws large in proportion to their bodies, fur that looked like it belonged to a teddy bear and cute faces that could melt the darkest of hearts….they were taken in as pets. Only, when they quickly grew larger and larger, it was soon apparent that they were not “pet material” and they were passed on to the Tshukudu Reserve to be raised safely and with the best interests of the leopards.

Now, both one year and two months old, with their distinctive dark spots called rosettes (as the shape resembles a rose), Tia and Zaro are settled into life at Tshukudu, with trained staff looking after them…..residing in a big enclosure with plentiful trees and vegetation and as if wild, they take their food up the trees to feast.

Leopards are astoundingly strong and are known to climb trees with heavy prey, to protect their kill and rest on the branches during the day.

I find it fascinating how despite their lack of interaction with their mother or other leopards, that Tia and Zaro’s natural instincts have taught them to behave just as a wild leopard would therefore. They are starting to learn how to stalk and hunt also, which to my enjoyment, they practice on us and objects.

They are both extremely playful, however each have their own characteristics…. Tia is cheeky and mischievous and loves to get herself into trouble and have us running around after her! When she knows she has been caught “red handed” although, she will always want cuddles and attention. Zaro on the other hand, is a lot more relaxed, yet gets jealous of the frolicsome nature of Tia and the attention she creates……..no different to having two children on the reserve!

 

Unfortunately, due to their interaction with humans, they will never be released back into the wild and so will be part of a breeding project, where their cubs will be released into the wild instead.

Farmers need educating on the ways to safely manage such animals visiting their land! The animals definitely do not need to be killed nor do they need to be kept in captivity – they can be released back into the wild. A special unit in Hoedspruit are trying to combat this by capturing the leopards and releasing them into the wild, away from land used for farming.

Although a sad story for Tia and Zaro, they will help to create a positive story in terms of increasing leopard populations and battling the ongoing endangerment of leopards in South Africa!…….and I have the privilege of working with these incredible animals every day – and can even add to my predator-selfie collection…..

A rare sighting of the elusive wild leopard

The best thing about going on a game drive is you never know what to expect…….in this environment on the Tshukudu Game Reserve you could turn a corner and be amongst a herd of elephants or as driving along see a family of lions eating. The sighting you do not regularly achieve here is of the wild leopard (Panthera Pardus).

Last Monday night I was extremely lucky to see my first wild leopard on the reserve – I could not contain my excitement! The leopards here are not permanent residents, but they do move quietly through the reserve and on to neighbouring reserves.

I have seen leopard tracks so many times before, however never been fortunate enough to see the animal in all its glory. This is because of the nature of the leopard, with how discrete they are and fugacious in comparison to other big cats and the big five animals. Just like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film Predator – a fighting force with strategy and stealth hidden in the bushes! Never thought I would compare a leopard to Arnie!

The leopard camouflaged in the bush and only moving around in the depth of darkness through the shadows. This makes the leopard such a mysterious creature, hence why it is so special to be able to see one!

On this particular occasion, a big male leopard had made his kill on our reserve near what’s termed as the 1800 dam. He had managed to take down a large zebra on his own – a nice feast for just one leopard! Only, as he was “tucking in” to his well-earned meal, he had some uninvited visitors……the King of the bush!

The commotion of the kill had attracted the attention of our lions who naturally went in that direction to explore and in true lion style…ambushed the leopard, leaving him with the only option but to scurry up the nearest knobthorn tree. Seven hungry lions would be extremely dangerous and unfortunately for the leopard, the odds were significantly against him.

Sat in the highest branches, safe but sadly peering down – the leopard watched as the lions ate his kill. One of the incredible things was how nimble the leopard was, moving with so much agility and speed – climbing a tree was a breeze and he was up there within seconds. The leopard had no option but to sit and wait for the lions to finish and leave – if he was to come down the tree to escape, the lions would have definitely killed him. So instead he made himself comfy on the branches with nothing else to do but watch the lions – looking extremely sorry for himself!

What a scenario….and for my first sighting of a leopard at Tshukudu – a tremendous encounter that is once in a lifetime! It’s not every day you see a leopard so clearly, looking majestic in the moonlight, watching a family of lions eat his food from a tree branch!

 

A drive with lions – the king of the bush

Panthera leo – the African lion, is one of the most, if not the most, majestic animals in the world and I am lucky enough to live amongst a family of seven beautiful lions at the Tshukudu Game Reserve.

Lions are known to be the most sociable of big cats and that is true of the family at Tshukudu, regularly seen roaming the land, resting or making a kill out in the open – the sightings have been incredible! Just like on my drive today, where I spent the entire afternoon with the male and female having a chill after a big feast!

The male’s presence so domineering and captivating, with his huge mane that encircles his neck so “king-like” and the female so peacefully laid beside him – her light yellow-brown coat gleaming in the South African sun.

The male has such a wise character which probably comes from the fact that he is 14 years old – this is old for lion years! Normally, male lions in the wild only live to approximately 10 to 11 years old due to younger, stronger and healthier males that would overrule and take his female. No wonder this guy is so smug! We have what’s termed as a “closed system” here at Tshukudu which means we can keep our male lion until he dies of natural causes.

The male and female have five endearing, extremely playful, fluffy cubs, three being males and two being females, that are now one year old. They are still too young to go hunting with mum and dad but have already started picking up the stalking and hunting characteristics by stalking or hunting each other or their mum and dad – I could spend a whole day watching this, they look so cheeky as they pounce!

With a little more confidence, the cubs have even started stalking the game drive vehicles if we get a little too close, as if it was a group of kids playing in the garden. In about a years’ time they will be hunting for themselves – so for now its practice in the playground.

Seeing a lion kill its prey, is just indescribable! They kill mostly large zebras, waterbuck, kudu and even sometimes a buffalo! As the Tshukudu family have seven hungry bellies to feed both the mum and dad hunt in order to kill an animal large enough. Watching the dynamics of them making a kill is exciting enough, but then seeing the family sitting down for their meal after, is just as mesmerising – the male eating first, followed by the cubs and then the female last.

Some photos were captured just recently at the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa of two lionesses who extraordinarily took-down a fleeing antelope in mid-air!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2629236/Its-lion-long-leap-Amazing-moment-predator-catches-antelope-mid-air.html

It’s safe to say that lions are one of my favourite animals and having the opportunity to see them at such close proximities is a dream! I was just reflecting on this as the drive today came to close and as we pulled back onto the road en route back to the lodge…..the family of seven were casually strolling side-by-side without a care in the world in front of us – a united strong force!

 

How a rhino started a wildlife journey

Safari……a word so regularly used today and a holiday/trip in which many from all over the world venture on to discover wildlife, culture and adventure. The word “safar” actually derives from the Arabic verb which translates to mean “to make a journey” – “safari” being a Swahili synonym of safar.

Safaris started around the trade industry where prized items – even people – were sold across vast landscapes. This fortunately changed in the 20^th century with the slave trade being abolished, which resulted in safaris becoming a leisurely focus with fun and exploration as opposed to a business focus.

This is what the Tshukudu Private Game Reserve aims to consistently provide – a wildlife journey full of excitement and experience. Showing people the alluring nature of South Africa and it’s richness in biodiversity – taking people on their own unique endeavours – haven’t we all watched Indiana Jones and wished we had the hat and the excitement?!

Such game reserves would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the increased price of wildlife in comparison to the price of cattle! Cattle farming used to dominate the area of what is now Tshukudu Game Reserve and the farmers used to shoot the wildlife to protect the cattle – how times change! The cattle also introduced large encroacher tree species (i.e. sickle bush) which took over the landscape and prevented other tree species and vegetation to grow – to this day we are still fighting to rid of this!

30 years ago, the Sussens family bought the farm and transformed the area into what is today known as the Tshukudu Game Reserve – named Tshukudu as this is the Sotho word for “Rhino” and the rhino was the first animal to be reintroduced into the area after the years of cattle farming. The rhino was just the start…..

With 5,000 hectares of beautiful landscape, the reserve habituates the most incredible animals I have ever seen, from a family of lions, elephant herds, hyena, a rhino and its calf, to orphaned leopards, and orphaned cheetahs that join you on bush walks or chill around the lodge pool.

There is nothing like sitting around the tranquil pool at the lodge, with an array of bird calls surrounding the air and all of a sudden hearing the distinct sound of the lions roaring close by. You get visions of watching Mufasa in The Lion King stood on Pride Rock and think to yourself how you never thought when watching the Disney film as a child that one day you would see such scenes in reality!

Spending each day here at the reserve is a dream and living here in South Africa is me “making my journey”!

 

 

A Sad Ending to the Story of a Six Tonne Bull Elephant

We hear so much in the news about elephants being killed for their tusks, however in this story, Obelix, the 35 year old, six huge tonnes in weight, bull elephant at the Tshukudu Game Reserve, was sadly struck by a freight train!

Obelix was the only male elephant on the game reserve and despite being known for his grumpy nature, he was loved by all the staff, as well the guests that were fortunate enough to encounter him.

He had a reason for his grumpiness although, as he was in musth a lot of the time. An elephant in musth is one to be very careful around, as they can be extremely dangerous and given the enormous size – you do not want to get on their bad side!

It is easy to identify an elephant in musth as a pouring liquid secretes from their temporal glands between the eye and the ear and the back legs are constantly wet via leaking urine (not the most attractive appearance or odour!). This is when the elephants testosterone is heightened for reproduction, hence the aggressive and unpredictable characteristics of an elephant in musth.

As Obelix was the only bull on the reserve he had no other bulls to fight with to release his anger and frustration. So…he was always up to mischief and finding ways of using up his aggressive energy – from destroying trees and vegetation to chasing game drive vehicles….the big rascal!

My encounters with Obelix, although only a few, have been extremely memorable as I found myself with a vehicle full off guests and Obelix towering over, closing in on us, shaking his huge head and trumpeting profusely. As you can imagine – quite a sight to see and certainly creates fear! As I am responsible for the guests, it’s my job to stay calm – a unique skill to master I must say when a six tonne elephant is trumpeting in your face!

Having spent more time with Obelix, I was understanding his behaviour, which enabled me to predict his actions and the encounters were a lot more enjoyable for myself and the guests, as opposed to an elephant seeing what trouble he could cause.

Obelix as you can probably tell was therefore notorious and had a great reputation. Guests coming from all over to catch a glimpse of him – it was amazing to see guests full of anticipation and excitement before going out to find him on a drive.

Unfortunately, the sad news, is that Obelix’s testosterone got the better of him and got him into trouble…..not so different to a male human…..as he smelt female elephants who were in the next game reserve – Balule. He broke through the fence and crossed the train tracks in order to get a closer look at the females – the big guy was just looking for a bit of fun!

On his return home, a mining train regrettably hit Obelix as he was crossing the tracks, which instantly broke his spine and shattered his hip.

With such a reputation, such character and such likeability – it is of course an extreme loss for the Tshukudu Reserve and all staff felt as if they had lost a family member. Staff visited the body to pay respects and all gathered for drinks on the dam wall in honour of such an amazing beast!

It is moments like this that make you realise how unique the experiences in life are and how lucky we are to see such beauty every day out here in South Africa. I am overjoyed that I got to meet the legend that is Obelix and I will always remember my encounters with him. Rest well big guy….

A tribute has been created by Dominique Joye for the Tshukudu Reserve, which can be viewed on youtube – Tribute to Obelix.

To read more about African elephants – visit the National Geographic African Elephants page.