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Great Pics Peter,
the last one (25 km north of TR) seems to be exactly the same we have seen in March this year near Roiiputs. So nice to see her again

WOW! Peter! Stunning pics! Thank you for an absolutely awesome pic of the cub as well! Do you perhaps have side-on pics of the cub's face also? I agree with AfricanDreams - I think you and AD saw the same leopard - your last pic!

Edited: peterpiper's post on page 1 - Maja - leopard no. 1 on pages 5/6 of ID Booklet, and Jannie - leopard no. 2 on pages 7/8 of ID Booklet. peterpiper's post at top of this page - Rooiputs female - leopard no. 9 on pages 21/22 of ID Booklet.
Now does anybody have good pics of the Urikariuus leopard(s)? Apparently there is a male and female!

Unfortunately, just looking at her face, it's difficult. excellent shot, though.
According to Gus Mills, the spots on a leopard's neck area, as well as the thigh area should work- he does not have as much experience with leopards, though. The whisker-count, like in lions, should be effective, but they have spots, so why not use it?

I will do some reading, and send some queries to Conservation Department/AERU- someone should have an answer....

If you look at peterpiper's first two pix of the female leopard, you can see immediately, from the top row of whisker spots, that it is the same leopard. Unfortunately, getting good shots of that row of whisker spots isn't easy, but it remains the single most reliable way to ID a leopard, as each leopard's top row of spots and associated whisker pattern is unique. I'll try to find a written source, but I was told this verbally, in the field, by men who have been studying leopards for many years.

I agree that Peterpiper's first two pics are a definite match, and also match this pic of mom and cub taken in Aug 07 some 6km's from TR.


The cub is also a match, but from PP's photo it has grown a bit since Aug.


Amazing that this little one has entertained us since March

Great stuff, peterbee! Comparing your pic with the two of peterpiper and wanderw's first pic of the mother leopard, it's possible to see that the top row spots are indentical in all pix, so absolutely confirmed ID as the same leopard.

With the two pix of the cub, the view of the top row of whisker spots is a little less 100% clear, but it still seems that they are a perfect match. I'm really impressed with so many clear pix showing these ID spots!

Seems like this TR female is a real show off , did she grow up getting used to the higher amount of vehicles in the area that she is so comfy around visitors ?

Some more pics of the TR pair taken at saamevloieng -

Mom -




Mom and cub -


I may have seen the male the day before , but it was far off on top of a ridge , but I will try get a photo on just now (It could be the female also)

Kgalagadi TFP - thanx for your input! Great to have you back with us!

peterbee and bucky - awesome pics!

bucky - you mention what a showoff the TR female is. Well, this last visit, even before she got close, I knew that it was her, because of her 'atitude'. She doesn't worry about cars at all, the cub was hesitant and as for the Leeudril male, he was quite skitsy - he got a fright near a car in front of us and charged back away from the road for about 100 metres. I got the impression that he would have stayed back on the dunes if it was not for the TR female.

Great pics, was there in September and also spotted the TR with the cub just in front of my car, also a male next to the 10 km board to TR on a rock, to far to take a photo, also a male lying next to Roiput under a tree.....good idea also to have a forum for the leopards, waiting for the report of Dr. Mills ref the cheetahs (how can i load up my pics ?)

Ho ! they are nice. Thanks Bucky

You make me dream!

I'm plannig a trip of 1 week to KTP in august, but watching your pictures I wonder I shouldn't cut short my flower trip on the west coast to stay longer in the park.
Your leo pics are stunning !
My favourit spot for leo was Hangwe but I think that I'll have to reconcider that, I'll see in august!

Hi forumties,

i hope it is not somehow rude or technical inappropriate to give a special hint to our homepage. Otherwise, guru , please let me know.
On our homepage i have a leopard section (../fotos/leoparden) in which you will recognise some of the beauties again.
Not all of them are ideal for identification but.....enjoy!
Pics 5-8 are taken about 250m south of kij kij
pics 9-18 are taken close to leeudril
pics 19-23 are taken north of urikaruus about 100m north of riverbed crossing
pics 24-46 are taken between houmoed and munro
pics 48-54 are taken between montrose and rooibrak

Hopefully we will be lucky again in february.

Edited: Maja - leopard no. 1 on pages 5/6 of the ID Booklet, and Kruiper(one of the two cubs) - leopard no. 3 on pages 9/10 of the ID Booklet.
Great news Forumites! KTP has 2 new leopards! This pic was taken by Marion and Roger Thompson, near Houmoed - leopards seen on the 19th and 20th September! I believe this is the TR female with 2 new cubs!