Sinkwe

* Fitted with a GPS collar.

This four-year-old male was collared in late July 2003 and is in the process of establishing himself as a territorial individual in the south of the reserve. When attempting to dart this particular leopard he made good his escape through the nearby tree canopy, much in the same way as a diminutive bushbaby, after which his Zulu name is derived. He has, to date, covered a vast portion of land, encompassing the majority of Phinda as well as a number of neighbouring properties. This wide ranging behaviour is typical of dispersing young male leopards, although in this region it may be hindered to some extent by the high levels of persecution evident in many of the farms to the south and east of Phinda. Sinkwe has relaxed noticeably with the game drives and in October 2004 had his original VHF radio-collar replaced by a GPS cellular-collar. The information obtained via this relatively new technology has been remarkable and bodes well for the deployment of more of these collars as the study progresses.

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Last updated February 2005.