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Now I do believe there are some new leopard photos that need adding to this topic...

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Enter the Protagonist



Photographed on 28 January, 2015 at 6:37 pm in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, with an EOS 1D X camera and an EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II super-telephoto lens.



ISO 20,000, 1/1250 sec., f/8, 400mm focal length, handheld Manual exposure.



****************************************************************************************************



~ The long safari had come to a close, the last game drive was over, it was sunset, and time to return to the lodge for a final meal.



Except...



Out of nowhere we heard of a sighting, sped off to it, pulled around elephants and bushes where the ultimate protagonist strode onto the stage of our safari for the final act.


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Leopard Hills Signature Species



Photographed on 3 October, 2015 at 9:16 am in Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa with an EOS 1D X camera and a Zeiss Apo-Sonnar T* 135mm f/2 ZE telephoto lens.



ISO 200, 1/1600 sec., f/2, 135mm focal length, manual focus, handheld Manual exposure.



****************************************************************************************************



~ There were multiple leopard sightings during both morning and afternoon game drives on each day in Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, which is within Sabi Sands, South Africa.



This particular male leopard, dubbed ‘Torchwood’, was followed through the overgrown bush, during which this close-range image was made.



An especially vigorous leopard, his power and stamina while hunting Greater Kudu was evident. He moved up rock faces with nimble grace.


Edited by Tom Kellie
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Serengeti, Tanzania , August 2013

Camera Panasonic FZ 100

 

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Huntress at Close Range



Photographed at 10:31 am on 29 April, 2014 in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, using an EOS 1D X camera and an EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II super-telephoto lens.


ISO 200, 1/250 sec., f/5, 400mm focal length, handheld Manual exposure.


*****************************************************************************************************


Throughout the morning game drive we'd been aware that a young female leopard had been spotted in the vicinity before vanishing into the bushes. We therefore observed other species.


No other vehicles were around, yet Anthony had a hunch that she might be hunting in a certain area where trees and bushes met, often used by elephants to rest in shade.


Suddenly I saw her beside me! I quietly but forcefully said to Anthony, “She's here beside us”. He stopped which enabled this portrait to be taken. She later caught and ate a ground squirrel.

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South Luangwa NP, Zambia.

 

In the Mfuwe area of the park, there is one female leopard that is very well known, Alice. She is an ageing cat, possibly 12-14 years old, and the recent sightings this year have noted that she is declining in health, she has lost her teeth and hunts the smaller animals and was seen successfully killing a genet. Whilst it may only be a matter of time before she is no longer seen her legacy lives on through the numerous cubs she has had.

 

This was Alice in August 2014

 

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One of her offspring, a female, is a contender to continue in her mothers paw steps and she was seen regularly during my visit, so I introduce to you .....

 

Lucy in November 2015

 

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For anyone visiting SLNP and the Mfuwe area and enjoy a leopard sighting, Lucy can be recognised by looking at the top of her left ear (although not clear in the above image) as it is missing. Lucy's sibling is a male who has been named David.

 

David in August 2014

 

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November 2015

Sightings of leopards during the evening game drives are always good to see, here's another leopard seen on one of the game drives ....

 

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Mother and daughter taken in Botswana. I love the expression of the mother in the second one she seems to be saying "P*** Off!"

 

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Sometimes it is more important to have a short minimum focus distance then focal length:

 

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Aberdares NP, Kenya.
The Leopard was walking on the road to mark its territory.
He passes the car very close.
I had to step back in the car, to keep the minimum focus distance.
D4+200-400/4 at 200mm, f1/4, 1/1000s, ISO 250 (cropped to about 3000 pixel, to cut the back and a part of the leg)



Jumping Leopard:

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Tanzania, Serengeti, near Lake Magadi (south of Seronera)
The Leopard was sleeping on a tree. After a while he woke up, did some stretching. Suddenly he jumps from the bedroom the kitchen.
These are just two pictures from a series.
D700+200-400/4 at 400 mm, f1/4, 1/1600s, ISO 250 and cropped)
In the first picture, I have removed some branches in the “flight path”.

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On the Prowl in Buffalo Springs



Photographed on 23 July, 2015 at 9:59 am in Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Kenya with an EOS 1D X camera and an EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II super-telephoto lens.



ISO 200, 1/2000 sec., f/4, 400mm focal length, manual focus, handheld Manual exposure.



****************************************************************************************************************



~ Once this leopard was spotted, walking through tall grass in Buffalo Springs, we followed it through bush, trees, and more grass. It rarely looked our way, ambling along with relaxed grace.



This close-range portrait was taken when it changed course to walk towards the safari van. One of 2015's most satisfying safari sightings.


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Leopard and cub in the africat Foundation, Namibia

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The Leopardess was collared like all Leopards and Cheetah in the africat foundation are.
The guide found them by radio, so for me that is not the "natural" way to find a leopard.

Nonetheless, the animals are wild, they have to hunt to get food.

And the interaction between mom and cub was priceless.

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Feathery Grass with Leopard



Photographed at 9:16 am on 3 May, 2015 in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, using an EOS 1D X camera and an EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II super-telephoto lens.


ISO 12,800, 1/8000 sec., f/10, 400mm focal length, handheld Manual exposure.


*****************************************************************************************************


As ever, the star of my safari was a leopard. While that's not a given, it's the case more often than not. This leopard had been napping in the shadow of a rock while an elephant herd grazed nearby.


It yawned, as leopards do, stretched, and stretched again, before walking up towards where we were parked. This image shows it passing by, momentarily concealed by delicate feathery grass. What a juxtaposition!

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Nine-Week Old Leopard on a Termite Mound



Photographed at 8:02 am on 26 January, 2016 at Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa, using an EOS 1D X camera and an EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II super-telephoto lens.


ISO 500, 1/1600 sec., f/2.8, 400mm focal length, handheld Manual exposure.


*****************************************************************************************************


A young female leopard named S'kangisa is raising a litter of three cubs, two male and one female, who are now nine-weeks old. This male is the most independent and feisty of her brood, as well as the most affectionate to his mother.


He'd growled at his mother when eating a small common duiker, which prompted her to quickly snarl back, before licking his fur. He then wandered away from her and his brother and sister to perch atop a nearby termite mound, thinking whatever thoughts run through a very young male leopard's mind.

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@@Tom Kellie, what a treat to see leopard cubs that young! He is the cutest thing ever :). Sabi Sand always delivers.

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@@Tom Kellie Lucky you!! I haven't seen a young leopard cub like that yet - some day I hope! What a cutie and great photo.

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~ @@bettel, @@SafariChick, and @@TonyQ

 

Thank you so much!

I'll be posting images of this leopard cub with his siblings and mother.

They were observed during three different game drives in three widely varied settings.

His tree-climbing abilities were already well-developed when I first observed him, at 8-weeks old.

I'd jested with @@Tdgraves about seeing twin leopard cubs, never supposing that I'd be observing triplet leopard cubs!

As @@bettel says, Sabi Sands does indeed deliver on all counts!

Tom K.

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Morkel Erasmus

@@Tom Kellie I am so stoked for you that you saw the cubs at LH! I am eager to see them in March, albeit a bit bigger (but hopefully still alive).

 

Great photos everyone!!

 

Here's a leopard photo 7 years in the making, my FIRST Kalahari leopard after 9 successive safaris to KTP

Full story here:

http://blog.morkelerasmus.com/2016/01/7-year-leopard.html

 

 

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@@Morkel Erasmus, so beautiful, staggering how these animals survive temperatures like that, thank goodness for air-con for us feeble humans

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Ahhh, how lovely! So, 7 more visits before seeing one like yours :( ....

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Katavi, September 2015, same girl on two different days. She's very comfortable around people. Enjoyed watching her move around in a tree one day and then the same on the ground several days later.

 

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Nikon D7000, Nikon 500mm, f5.6, ISO 400, Auto, hand held.

 

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Nikon D750, Nikon 500mm, f4, ISO 200, 1/500, Auto, hand held.

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@@Tom Kellie I am so stoked for you that you saw the cubs at LH! I am eager to see them in March, albeit a bit bigger (but hopefully still alive).

 

~ @@Morkel Erasmus

 

All indications are that K'lingisa is both a wily and a resourceful mother.

The three cubs all appear to be exceptionally healthy, with the male shown in my image above full of energy.

I look forward to seeing your images of them!

Tom K.

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