“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”
Unknown
The first time I saw a leopard, it was a brief glimpse of a tail through thick bush. And yet I was so excited that I had finally seen this elusive animal and I still have the photo!
This section alongside what can be seen on social media, could suggest that it’s easy to see leopards. However, it was only when I started visiting the Olare Motorogi conservancy that good sightings became relatively common. Spotting leopards can be very challenging, they blend so well into their surroundings, and don’t always select the perfect tree to sleep in. I have spent many hours watching them sleep, hoping for them to start being active, only for the cat to still be laid there as we drive back to camp in the dark. But there’s not many better ways to spend your time.
I have been lucky enough to get to know a number of leopards, but the one closest to my heart is Fig. I first saw her in March 2012 as a cub, with her mother Acacia. I have since spent many hours with her, her mother and father and the four cubs that she brought up to independence, before her passing in early 2022. They all feature significantly in the photos below.
Fig. Whilst I didn't know it at the time, this was the last time I would see the wonderful Fig. She was resting in one of her favourite trees and was still caring for her year old cub Faulu who was nearby. Her passing was a huge shock but she lived more than ten years free in the wild and brought four cubs to independence. She is missed and will never be forgotten.
Those Eyes... One of my first meetings with Figlet, first daughter of Fig.
Hugs. Furaha with her mother Fig, taking a break from play fighting. This was the last morning of that trip and we were fortunate to find them together in the open at first light. They were not remotely bothered about our presence, playing and resting for more than an hour. Furaha was Fig's third cub to reach adulthood.
The Joker. Pinknose, father of fig, having a very impressive yawn.
Stepping Out. One of Tito's cubs following mum to a nearby kill.
Eye Contact. Fig on one of her favourite spots, on a high termite mound, where she has a great vantage point for potential dinner opportunities. She was the most beautiful cat!
Feeling Shy. This was one of three cubs in the same litter, from a female at the far end of the Reserve. She was by far the biggest female I have seen and the only time I have seen a leopard with three cubs. On this morning, all of the leopards were doing what comes naturally and staying solitary. But it was amazing to see all four of them and this one was kind enough to be hanging out in a rather lovely tree.
"What Are You Looking At?!" Fig making eye contact during a cleaning session.
Piggy Back. One of Kaboso's cubs gets bored of walking. I have no idea how cat mums stay calm!
The Hunter, Bahati, daughter of Olive, left her two young cubs in the thick bush and headed straight out in front of us as she went off to hunt. A few minutes later she was dragging back her kill.
The Tree Of Life. This is one of those bittersweet moments where you feel for the young zebra, but the leopard cub, Figlet, needs the food to survive. The kill lasted a few days which meant we were fortunate to spend a lot of time with Fig and Figlet who stayed close. The NatGeo documentary "Jade Eyed Leopard" includes scenes from those few days.
Patience. The other long standing leopard in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is Tito. She has successfully raised a number of cubs, including one of her daughters shown here. We found her in a tree with a pride of lions sleeping close by. She stayed in her safe place for many hours, finally slinking off around lunchtime when the lions were fast asleep in the mid-day sun.
Sticking Close. Kaboso and one of her two cubs stopping to review their options, before heading across the plain. It's interesting to see the different characters cubs have, even at an early age. There's often one which sticks close to mum, is very attentive and watches her every move. And sometimes there's one that wanders off, has a far higher risk appetite and wants everything done for him! The second cub in this case had gone for a wander.....
Through The Green Window. It can be really hard spotting leopards. I'm great at spotting cheetah shaped tree stumps and rocks out on the plains (!) and your eyes can really play tricks on you when you're scanning for leopards in the thick undergrowth close to river beds. In this case, Furaha, second daughter of Fig, kindly let me have a glimpse of her world through the trees.
The Student. Cat mothers pass a number of crucial life skills onto their young and cleaning themselves is something they learn early on. It's crucial that they keep their fur clean and mouth by distributing natural oils as well as to eliminate parasites. Here Figlet is cleaning herself after a heavy rain shower.
The Bluest Eye. Figlet on my first meeting, back in 2017.
Being The Adult. Furaha looks serious as mum, Fig, plays around behind her.
In The Darkness. Fig was in an area challenging to photograph in, with just a small beam of light hitting her face. I significantly underexposed, highlighting one eye and putting most of the rest of her in darkness.
Taking A Break. Fig, in one of her favourite vantage points, a ditch overlooking the plains, takes a short break from looking for potential meal opportunities.
Not Impressed. Figlet looking a bit grumpy after heavy rain. There's something adorable about wet cats!
Eye Contact. Fig on another of her favourite spots, on a high termite mound, where she has a great vantage point for potential dinner opportunities. She was the most beautiful cat!
A Comfy Bed. Fig doing what leopards do best, sleeping in what looks like a very uncomfortable tree!
The Bond. We found Fig crossing an open plain at first light. When she was close to some trees she began to call, and Furaha came out, obviously relieved to see her mum after a night alone. This was to be the start of an amazing morning with mum, daughter and father Goldenballs.
Green Eyes. Many leopard cubs are born with blue eyes and as they are their eyes change to a yellow or green colour. Figlet, pictured here, had the bluest eyes I have ever seen on a cat whilst she was young and it made her incredibly photogenic (not that leopards usually aren't!). Even when she was much older, her eyes were unusual. Here they look a more green colour as they catch the light.
My Playground. Figlet as a young cub, climbing up to be with mum.
New Kid On The Block. Faulu, Fig's last cub and third daughter. Here she is about a year old and still getting some support from her mum. It was amazing to see her after a big break from the Mara due to the pandemic.
Majestic. The beautiful Fig on one of her favourite spots.
Sneaky Peek. One of Acacia's cubs checks it's safe before coming out into the open.
Training Wheels. Figlet on a high branch. She had so much confidence getting up there, but then there was the coming down......
Inquisitive. A very young Fig wonders who is pointing a camera at her. Who knew how many hours we'd spend together over the following ten years.
Hanging Around. Fig’s daughter Faulu, in March 2022. We found her resting in a tree, with a young topi kill and surrounded by hyena. A genet was also high in the tree, obviously troubled by the leopard close by, but unable to escape. Fortunately after some time the hyena began to disperse. Faulu took the opportunity to get down and head to nearby bushes for safety, leaving a very relieved genet.
Meine Mutter. Acacia, mum of Fig, resting in the shade at the base of a tree. She was a very beautiful and calm cat and wasn’t bothered about visits from vehicles. This definitely passed onto her daughter.
Unforgettable. We found the amazing Fig before sunrise, in a tree where we'd seen her kill the day before. As the sun began to rise, she began her descent, resulting in the unmistakable shape of a leopard against the early morning sky.
Vantage Point. Fig surveys her territory from her favourite termite mound. Or she's doing an impression of a cheetah!
When I Grow Up..... Acacia's cub already showing the prowess of an older leopard.
Baby Face. One of a litter of three, already spending a lot of time on its own. It's amazing, even at such an early age, that they choose to be solitary.
Playtime! A young Figlet just can't resist Fig's tail!
Spots. One of Tito's cubs, Akira, waiting for the nearby lions to depart.
Confidence. A fearless Fig!
Look Out. Fig taking an interest in nearby impala. She often used the vantage point from this ditch to watch over the plain and look for potential meals.
Spotted. Fig spots some potential options for breakfast. It obviously wasn't good enough as six hours later she was still in the same spot!
All Clear. One of Acacia's cubs checking that it's safe to come out of the bushes.
Golden Eyes. We were heading to a far end of the Reserve hoping to see a cheetah with cubs. On the way, we heard jackals barking and went to look to see what all the fuss was about. Out of the bushes came Lorian, who walked down towards the trees with a jackal yapping and a hyena following behind. Despite the company she settled on a mound in the early morning light.
Old Blue Eyes. Figlet at 18 months old. Mum had forced her out before she was a year old. She initially fended for herself by taking small prey like mongoose but was remarkably taking impala by the time she was 18 months old.
Vogue. Fig striking a pose.
Mr Handsome. Pinknose, father of Fig, in the early morning light. You can see where she got her good looks from!
Knock On Wood. Fig and Furaha tap on the head of a rather chilled out Goldenballs! This is one of my favourite ever sightings, where we spent a number of hours watching mum, dad and cub interact. It is quite rare to spend so much time with a male leopard, and even more so to see him with his offspring. Fig didn't seem too happy about it at times, but despite her occasional outbursts he remained calm and it was just as if he wanted to spend time with them. An incredible morning!