Kgalagadi Leopard Discussions

[Richprins]

[Mel]

Seems we were at that same sighting

From my recollection (often faulty ), we were the first car to see him, then a second car appeared behind us and quickly spotted him as well. While backing up, we stopped to inform another car (4th one??) of what we were seeing....which one were you?

Since I have no idea of what you "guys" look like, I suppose we interacted at some point We were in the Honeymoon tent and totally missed the leopard sightings of Itumeleng at the waterhole on the night of the 16th. You'll NEVER guess what I was busy doing

Sitting outside in the car enclosure taking pics of insects Even ones engaged in Klippie's Giggle of the Day activities .

After all, it IS the HONEYMOON tent.

Seriously? We were in Unit 1, so actually we were even next door neighbours so to speak... And I'm surprised our SOs didn't recognize each other either because they had spoken in the communal at Grootkolk at some point. Last year? The year before? I can't remember exactly, but the two of us figured out later that we had been in the same camp.

That morning we would have gone south like every day. I was on a mission to find Miera. Which never happened, obviously. But then the neighbours in 2, 3 and 4, who were all travelling together (with radio to keep in touch with each other at all times and exchange intelligence about the nice sightings..) had told the tall tale about having seen two leopards together at 14th in the morning of the 14th and another two at 13th the same evening. Hence the SO was keen to check those out. And when we arrived, there were actually three cars there already driving backwards, so it became clear quite quickly that one of the leopards must have been in the riverbed.

And now the embarrassing bit: I looked at you (obviously, since we only spoke to the people of one car and you informed only one car about the leopard...) when you spoke to us, but I don't think I would be able to recognize you again next time I'm sorry. I was so focused on getting some shots of that leopard for ID purposes that I only had eyes for him

Even if we found at least Botshelo, I still don't believe the story about those leopards. On the book of faces I found a video of Botshelo drinking at 14th on the 14th. It was just him and no other leopard around. Now what are the chances that there were two together before or after that?

Then, two leopards at 13th also not very likely. It's mainly Tsamma there and she looks heavily pregnant and therefore not interested in hooking up with Botshelo - who is quite a walker it seems.

Also, I had thought, that you were there mainly in September, from your postings on the mammal challenge... When did you leave the park?

Oh, and I had the white-browed sparrow-weavers doing honeymoon stuff at our unit

[ExFmem]

Same here as far as focusing on pics of the leopard rather than who's in the car we wanted to alert to the sighting - I asked SO and he, too, has no idea what you two looked like if we were to see you again

We do seem to have another trait in common (I'm also of German heritage - Grandmother born there) - one-track minds

Yes, we heard about the TWO leopards, and were even at the sighting and being told there was a kill with one leopard in the tree (I do have pics from FAR away), and the other on the ground behind the tree, but never saw it after staying quite a bit of time.

I'll post my cheetah/leopard pics for your help soon, but the ones you posted already certainly help me with possibilities. You're a real sweetheart.

[Lisbeth]

Learn to multitask girls

[ExFmem]

Okay, will finish up my leopard sightings - 2 sightings of Tsamma, and one that I can't ID and have only 2 pics of from FAR away in poor light - sorry Mel , and good luck

[ExFmem]

TSAMMA - 9/27 12:02PM ; in tree at Dertiende (was told there was a 2nd one on the ground, but never saw it)

Tsamma1.jpg (545.92 KiB) Viewed 1394 times

Tsamma1_2.jpg (532.05 KiB) Viewed 1394 times

[ExFmem]

TSAMMA 10/15 5PM ; under tree @ Dertiende

Tsamma2.jpg (535.93 KiB) Viewed 1394 times

[ExFmem]

Here are the "Mission Impossible" pics

10/8 11:56AM ; lying on "dune" in front of rocky ridge, then moved to shadier spot in ridge

leop2.jpg (384.47 KiB) Viewed 1394 times

leop2_2.jpg (427.04 KiB) Viewed 1394 times

[Mel]

Here are the "Mission Impossible" pics

10/8 11:56AM ; lying on "dune" in front of rocky ridge, then moved to shadier spot in ridge

Could you give me an approximate location, please? Makes the searching progress easier

[Mel]

I've added Tsamma to the sightings thread and also Botshelo to my post,
advising which was your and which was my version of the sighting