27th November 2000
Amazingly they were still at it all night. Having picked up Tjololo and the Newington female at sunset they slowly headed east mating at a serious tempo. Not far off every 5 minutes, and at times Tjololo not even dismounting to get down to it again.
About half way across his territory Tjololo was very much into hunting mode. His first attempt was very close as the impala leapt high in the air and Tjololo only just managed to tap it’s back leg but it got away. Hopefully I got the whole shot and there was enough light, but the 2 animals jumping was dramatic in itself.
His next attempt was another close miss, but hopefully also on film. Just as we thought he’d missed and the impala thought they were safe Tjololo rushed in and caught an adult male impala. While strangling it the female joined him and started feeding. Both leopards fed a while before a hyaena chased them off. It was later joined by another 5 hyaenas and they soon consumed the carcass. With the commotion of the hyaenas laughing Shololtoo arrived in the area hoping to pick up scraps but without any joy and moved off. Again Tjololo paid him little attention.
Tjololo spent the rest of the night in the area mating. At dawn they slowly moved north. He seemed to be looking for something. He kept looking into trees. Then we smelt it and heard a leopard puffing in a tree. Shololtoo had a baboon kill in a tree. Tjololo rushed into the tree and fed as Shololtoo gave way for him and soon left the tree when the Newington female climbed in after Tjololo.
Only once Tjololo had fed and left the tree did Shololtoo return to feed on the carcass.
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