Only in the Sabi Sands

Yet another batch of new leopard cubs were seen by all. The female in the west has had another litter of cubs and we were treated to one of nature’s most intimate sightings of her suckling her three two and a half month old cubs. While we were on our way back for breakfast we heard the call on the radio that a leopard and three cubs had been found in a nearby drainage line. We set off towards the sighting anxious to get there before she moved off. On arrival I don’t think any of us were quite prepared for what we were about to see. In the open at the base of the drainage line lay the mother leopard with three tiny little cubs playing around her and fighting for prime position to suckle. After about ten minutes of suckling the three little cubs moved off to a nearby thicket. We thought the sighting was over when all of a sudden the three cubs dragged out what was left of a duiker kill from the night before. All three of them took turns in mock killing the dead duiker, although this seemed like playfulness, we were all well aware that this was vital practice for the real thing one day. The drive home was silent as all of us tried to digest what we had just witnessed.

Posted: Exeter by Craig Paulsen, Date: 6 July 2008