Photo by: Christian Sperka

Ngoye

This attractive sub-adult female is approximately three-and-a-half-years-old and was captured in February 2003. From the start she has displayed a relaxed and inquisitive nature, viewing the land rover more as a subject for investigation rather than a potential threat. She is now in the process of establishing herself as a territorial individual, ranging between the northern portion of Phinda and the neighbouring Mkhuze Conservancy. Of late, she has become extremely rigorous in proclaiming her newly attained status, scent-marking and calling on an almost continual basis during her nightly wanderings. This is a dangerous phase for a young leopard as, by making herself so conspicuous, she may draw the unwanted attentions of a larger, older female leopard (this is presumably what caused the demise of Nandi). Already she has been involved in a serious skirmish that left her with a severe limp and deep puncture wounds in her left hindquarter. Thankfully, she recovered well from the injury and has returned to good health, however, this incident emphasises the dangers faced by young sub-adults attempting to establish themselves in a relatively hostile environment.

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Last updated February 2005.