Wildcast

TJOLOLO – BACK FROM THE PAST

In late 1999 we started a film about a male leopard, Tjololo, coming of age in Mala Mala Game Reserve. The film “Stalking Leopards” was a National Geographic production. During the making of this film we had a live Internet broadcast as a 30 second refresh. “LeopardCam” was live for the 14 to 16 hours we were out there at night.
We are now running my diary from back then on a day to day basis, although now 7 years later.

23rd January 2000
The quiet spell continues. Always rather concerning when this carries on too long without anything being shot.
A rather lethargic specimen of Tjololo only got on the move late evening and slowly made his way into the Kruger National Park. That was him done for the night.
Mala Mala rangers had Tjellers’s neighbour with her 2 cubs at Jakkalsdraai open area but when we got there, there was not sign of them. But Tjellers was in the area with a recently killed young impala up a tree.
At dawn Tjololo was back home on Mala Mala territory near Rocky crossing.

22nd January 2000
There was a mass of leopard tracks on Charleston Drive which we think are those of the female leopard and her 2 male cubs that are neighbours to Tjellers, except they were now poaching on her territory.
Tjololo had done a marathon walk from where we lost him going in to Kruger last night and picked him up tonight at Dudley crossing. The whole diagonal length of his territory. He spent the night hunting to the north of his territory with no success.
At dawn the White Cloth female came across him in the Kapen river, but he was never aware of her. Once she’d identified his scent she moved on.

21st January 2000
The Windmill pride provided for some great material backlit in the long tussled grass.
Tjololo pulled a fast one on us and temporarily became government property, disappearing into the Kruger National Park in the early evening.
For the rest of the night we slogged after Tjellers on another marathon patrol to the west. Most of the time all we were following was moving grass. After a whole night with her I realised I didn’t even get the chance or have the opportunity to get the camera out once. Not productive for filming, but the more hours we spend with these cats the more we learn.

20th January 2000
Tjololo’s carcass now finished he moved off a short distance and settled down to sleep it off.
We later picked up 4 lions in the area of his kill picking up the scraps. We followed them hunting. Seeing eyes in the distance the lions took off and we lost them. Searching, we had no joy. Sitting quietly we heard growling and snapping of bones and found the lions fighting over a 14 month old male impala. Half an hour later there was no sign of the kill except blood stained grass and a pair of horns. No filming opportunities.
Headed south to the Windmill pride (17 lions) resting up after apparently having finished off a young giraffe.
At dawn Tjololo had gotten himself on the move patrolling to the south.

19th January 2000
It’s happened to me once before and now the nightmare of all filmmakers strikes again. While tracking Tjololo I received a radio message that 2 rolls (approx. 20mins.) of my film had been damaged during processing. All that time and effort gone. There is little one can do and no ways that the shots can be got again. After all the “actors” don’t always perform to que.
Back on the ground, Tjololo was still working on extending his waistline and doing pretty well at it.
Tjellers was hunting in some incredibly thick bush until after midnight when we all took a breather. Moving on again around 3h00 she disappeared into the Paradise Valley donga systems where we couldn’t follow up.

18th January 2000
We made the long haul north again, with the river in flood, to cross at the bridge.
Tjololo was a way north of the Kapen river (his northern boundary) marking territory, which looks like he is trying to extend his boundaries to the north. We haven’t seen his opponent for some time which is probably why he is pushing north. Although he was marking he was showing nervous behaviour.
He then suddenly decided to head back south west and once across the Kapen river he resumed hunting killing an adult female impala around midnight. Yet again not able to capture the event on film. Who said it was easy?
We’ve just had a spell of 10 days or so which have been great filming days where I shot a fair amount of film. But the last few days have been dull again. The typical cycle. Things can be dead for a while and then suddenly pump for a few days. But one never knows when the good days are. The only answer to this is to be out there for as long as is humanly possible. I’ve been filming at night for over 10 years and now beginning to wonder if I’m human anymore.

17th January 2000
The same hyaena we saw on the 12th was again feeding on a terrapin. He is possibly one of 2 hyaena cubs that lost their mother a couple of months ago, and are now trying everything to make ends meet. What easier way than catching terrapins in the shallow puddles.
All the streams on Mala Mala are flowing and it was good to see the Tjellahanga river with a good flow and a lioness crossing it as we got there.
Tjololo was sleeping away a huge stomach load when we found him. While sitting with him 3 lionesses arrived and were only some 5m away from him when in the wind he heard their approach and was bolt upright and gone in a flash. Probably the fastest awakening he’s had for a long time.
We followed the lions hunting but they unfortunately often left the road in clay areas where we couldn’t follow as this would be ecologically damaging. But we managed to pick them up several times back on the different roads until the drizzle set in again after midnight.
At dawn we found the lions resting after a long trek south.

16th January 2000
Another 35mm (about 1 ½ inches) of rain. Not much, but when it only comes in a soft drizzle it means raining all night. The rain has been country wide, so expecting the river to flood again.
The Mala Mala rangers picked up Tjellers with a baby impala kill. Got some material with her in the rain, otherwise another night locked up under our cover.
Just sent off another batch of film to be processed. Should have it back next week to see how we’ve faired. We await it expectantly to see the good and the unusable. Hopefully more of the former.

15th January 2000
No cyclone, but the rains have arrived. Rather a pathetic little drizzle but very inhibiting to work in.
Tjololo was still resting on Misters Koppies. He moved out into the open on a rock with his hyaena friend moseying at the base. We filmed him in the rain, which was great. This was possible without our covers up even though we got rather wet, but provided for some great material. Eventually after over an hour in the rain Tjololo moved on and soaked we had to withdraw to dry up all our camera gear and ourselves. Back to camp.
Were hoping to get out later again, but the rain just carried on.
We’re expecting the river to flood again.

14th January 2000
Winds have calmed. Looks like the cyclone will not be visiting for now.
Tjololo had spent the day digesting and only moved on at sunset despite
it being a cool day and him having been inactive the whole night. This
meant a long night ahead.
Southward bound he came across the bones from the buffalo carcass in
the river from a week or so ago. Holding a rib bone in his fore paws he
ecstatically rubbed his head all over it.
East of here he picked up the scent of Tjellers’ kill. Stalking
closer he watched her leave the tree and then followed her briefly to confirm
her scented identity. He climbed the tree sniffing all over and ignoring the
kill, sometimes giving a soft growl/miaow and chuffling. He left the tree,
scouted the area briefly and then back to feed. Gorged he lay up a way off.
Tjellers came to feed. He approached the tree and watched her feed and leave
the tree, moving rapidly away from it. Tjololo followed slowly and as he
approached she ran off, he chased her. With a loud yeowl, Tjellers
took off. Tjololo pursued briefly and lay up.
We thought we were in for a good nights sleep with some of the carcass still
remaining. No joy. A couple of hours later Tjololo consumed the remains and
continued south and later east bumping in to some rhino on the way. Also
being followed and hassled by his “buddy” hyaena.

13th January 2000
Tjellers took us through some horrendous bush which was often impassable. Making detours and then trying to find her in the maze was no easy going. While searching for her we heard the death cries of a duiker which we found her strangling. This was a long ways to the west of her territory. Not sure why she’s trespassing so far but we noticed she did this several years ago when she was in the last month of her pregnancy. Lets hold thumbs.
Tjellers was plucking the hair from the kill before she fed. Leopards often do this and it’s thought that this is so they don’t have to eat it when feeding. I find it strange that they seem to pluck a small area around the stomach and then proceed to feed at the rear. Not where they plucked. They also seldom pluck the animal after the first feed. (maybe this is because once the carcass is cold the hair is more difficult to remove).
Tjololo had moved on from his kill heading south along the Sand river on patrol.
The cloudy and windy weather that has arrived is due to a cyclone off the Mozambique coast which may possibly drift overland our way. We could be in for some serious rains.

12th January 2000
A long 16 hours of bush bashing with little to show.
A young hyaena was eating a terrapin which one would expect to see more often as they should be easy to catch but this is a first for me.
After being caught up with several white rhino and then a black maned lion, Tjololo was found where we’d left him in the morning. With a good rest behind him he was active nearly the whole night still spending his time around the Kapen river. His activities centred more around hunting than marking. We had our efforts concentrated on him closing in on some impala and didn’t notice the stars disappear, when we were suddenly showered. By the time we’d got our covers up the rain had stopped. The rest of the night was rather uncomfortable in damp clothing.
Tjololo lost his hunting desire and went off for a couple of hours following the scent trail of another leopard but never met up with it and resumed his hunting. With the strong winds providing him with noise cover he ran in on a baby impala and killed it before it was even aware of his approach and before we too were in place to film anything. He disappeared with the carcass out of sight in a deep donga (ravine).
An hours sleep on the camera boxes before dawn was very welcome.

11th January 2000
Have all the bugs gone? We had a comfortable night with very few bugs, but summer is far from over and they’re bound to be back in force.
The river is down substantially and we could again cross at Rocky crossing.
Tjololo had an easy going night patrolling the northern boundary of his territory on the Kapen river. On these nights he moves for an hour or two and rests for about half an hour, which makes it really tiring on us as we must catch whatever bit of sleep we can. Broken sleep like this doesn’t go a long way.
After one of his rests he was suddenly up and trotting along a scent trail. We saw in the distance another leopard running off. Tjololo never caught up with it but followed its trail for about an hour.
You would have seen him licking buffalo dung. He often does this, probably finding some minerals in it that he lacks. Don’t worry it’s not that bad. After all it’s only grass.

10th January 2000
An enjoyable night with many different species revealing themselves out of the thick bush including the few minutes we were able to spend with a Serval hunting mice. It soon disappeared into the long grass.
Tjololo was an uncomfortable wreck trying to pant away his overloaded gut. He was constantly harassed by 2 hyaenas that wouldn’t let him rest on the ground. Trees were his only safe refuge. At dawn with his kill finished they followed as he moved on down and disappeared in the thick undergrowth of the Sand river.

9th January 2000
Being witness to a stunning African sunset with wildebeest and zebra silhouetted against the multitude of colours is always a special experience while it lasts.
We spent the early hours of the evening with the White Cloth female leopard as she was attempting to sleep off a rather distended stomach. We let her be.
Tjololo was in the same predicament but he still had half his meal left.
Quiet night otherwise.

8th January 2000
Sunset with the Windmill pride (15 lions). No activity there.
Rolling film again! Some humorous action from Tjololo. He killed a subadult male impala which he treed. While taking it higher up the tree he felt he needed to take it to the upper limits which, with his weight only, would have been fine. But now with the added burden of the impala the branches couldn’t handle it and broke sending them crashing to the ground. Tjololo seemed rather mesmerized not believing it happened.
We had a brief sighting of Tjellers at dawn. While trying to follow up through a donga we got ourselves solidly stuck. About an hour later with many rocks and logs under the wheels and looking as if we’d been mud wrestling, we were out. No further sign of Tjellers.
Rather frustrating that the Internet is down. The PC at the transmitting tower was struck by lightning and is down. Will hopefully be running again tomorrow.
Richard back behind his cam. Thanks Paula for standing in.

7th January 2000
The Sand river in full flood was some 100m wide compared to the winter flow of 4 -5m and about a foot deep. It was starting to drop when we left camp in the afternoon.
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!!! Our next film should be insects. They come to us.
Early evening we spent some time with Tjellers but she was hot and panting and not looking to be going anywhere.
Eventually found Tjololo around midnight on the move marking territory. Kept us going most of the night. At dawn his “buddy”, the hyaena, joined him just to make sure he could be a pest. Rolled some film for a change.
A long night made sure Paula had no thoughts that it was easy going.

5th January 2000
A quiet night with all customers well fed.
Tjololo still with the skeletal remains of his kill.
The lions on the buffalo carcass are now probably competing with the maggots for the remains.
Tjellers with the remains of a baby impala kill. (Not able to show you much of her where the steep ravine she was in impaired the signal.)
Through the night we were showered with insects flying in to our lights soon after sunset. Not a comfortable experience.

4th January 2000
Bad weather stopped play! We tried working in the drizzle, but had to give up. Sorry about that.
We were out again at 3h00 and the rain seemed to have lifted. Tjololo still with his impala kill.
The Sand river still in flood, and so the long drive round again.

3rd January 2000
The level of the Sand river at Rocky crossing had subsided a little from the morning and we just made it across with water flowing over the bonnet. The rain kept coming in bursts of drizzle all night which most of the time we could avoid by parking under a tree. While driving off road looking for Tjololo a hidden stump ruptured a second tyre in 10 days. Expensive stuff.
Tjololo was back in the northern part of his territory. Hunting after dark he killed an adult male impala which again we were unable to film. We just weren’t able to move in without disturbing the hunt. Tjololo had the kill to himself for a change and fed on the ground. We moved on for looking for other filming opportunities.
3 Young male lions had a buffalo carcass next to the Sand river and when we got there they’d relinquished their meal to a 10 foot long crocodile. The stomach cavity of the carcass was a mass of maggots whose heat was giving off a cloud of vapour. Dale waited on at the carcass and soon found the river rising around his vehicle. He managed to get out before the flood waters got too high.
Tjololo was resting soundly, too soundly, near his kill when a hyaena surprised him to take his meal. When the hyaena had over fed itself and started wandering around, Tjololo rushed in to retrieve his prize and this time treed it.

2nd January 2000
A wet start to the millennium as the weather sorted us out tonight. Gentle
drizzle kept us under cover for most of the night. At least we were able to
catch up on sleep. When the rain lifted we picked up Tjellers
soon after sunrise only to have to cover up for the rain again. A No Win
situation today. The drive back to camp was an hour and a half longer too
as our normal crossing point at Rocky crossing was in full flood.

29th December 1999
A very long night in the saddle but really worth it.
Tjololo was still on his kill in the afternoon with a troop of baboon shouting
obscenities at him.
The male leopard cub was still in the same area, again trying to stalk impala
rams. He did provide us with some great shots on an anthill against the sunset.
The Mala Mala rangers found Tjellers after dark about 300m south of the cub.
We picked up on her stalking an adult male impala. Only 5m from her quarry
and the hunt was messed up by a hyaena. Following on after Tjellers the bush
exploded to the north of us with the impala crashing its way through the thick
bush and the hyaena firmly attached to its rump. Not 30 seconds later the impala
was dead and its stomach ripped apart. Tjellers hung around hoping to pick up
on some scraps, but when 5 more hyaenas arrived she moved on.
Tjellers went on a marathon walk moving several kilometers west of her territory
and then back again, the whole time being trailed by a hyaena. She tracked down a
porcupine but with a grunt and quills rattling Tjellers backed off. She called off her
march about an hour before sunrise when we were able to catch a brief nap……

27th December 1999
The last week has been incredibly hot with temperatures over 35 degrees C
every day, but this was broken with a violent African thunderstorm this
afternoon. Great relief but it does make it difficult for us to operate as we have to erect
a cover to protect all the camera gear. We did get to film impala in the rain.
It rained on softly until about midnight. We luckily picked up Tjololo
a while later, looking rather lean and hunting. He made several attempts
on impala but each time a hyaena and its youngster ran in botching up
his hunt.

18th December 1999
What started off as a disappointing night, later provided some interesting
material. We picked up Tjololo in the same spot we’d left him in the morning,
but now with a baby warthog kill. It must have stumbled right on top of him.
Unfortunately we can’t spend 24 hours a day with him. Leaving Tjololo with
yet more dinner we headed south and picked up on a pride of 14 lions that the
Mala Mala rangers had found, just north of Rocky Crossing. Several hours
wandering around with them aimiously seemed to be getting nowhere. Then
Dale picked up Tjellers (see background) only a 100m away.. She must have
only just killed an adult female impala. Carcass still on the ground, she’d just
started feeding. Shortly, Tjellers left the carcass as a hyaena moved
in and commandeered the kill. Hyaena fed well and while carrying off a piece of
leg, Tjellers darted in and treed her prize. Hyaena came carreering back but too
late to retain his captured goods.

17th December 1999
A good but rather frustrating night for us. It was great to get some
20 minutes of Tjololo stalking impala, but his final charge was
unsuccessful. Later in the evening while forging our way through some
thick bush Tjololo unexpectadly dashed ahead and next was strangling
a male Steenbok. Seconds later he took off at speed up a tree with his
kill, a hyaena in hot pursuit. All too unexpected and quick for us to capture
on film. Heard lions calling not too far off. Expected them to investigate.
No joy. Tjololo was able to keep his dinner.

16th December 1999
Our first night out broadcasting live sure provided us and
hopefully you with some entertainment. Tjololo was very active
going for a period of some 8-9 hours continously on the move
marking territory and hunting.
I shot a fair amount of film and was ‘happy’ to get Tjololo charging
in on impala, after a long stalk, and knocking one on it’s rear but it got away. I say happy
‘cos I won’t know for another 4 weeks or so, how it turned out until
I get the film processed.
All in all a good night, but very tiring.