Shakira and Ombeli, who both arrived at the farm as small cubs, have been living up at Marlice's house for most of their first year and have now finally been moved into their new large permanent enclosure! Thank you to everyone for fundraising and donating to help build this camp for them. The 3 hectare camp allows them all the space they need and they're loving exploring their new territory. The move took place in December and was a very exciting day for us all.
The cubs are now 15 months old and becoming extremely energetic and playful teenagers. They love to run, chase and play-fight with each other and, as they are now much bigger and stronger, their games can become quite rough and less easy to control and contain! For this reason, Wildlife Co-ordinator and Leopard Man, Shaun has decided that it is no longer safe to take both leopards out for walks together as he doesn't want to run the risk of any volunteers being placed in danger. So the two siblings are now being taken out for solo walks.
The cubs are now 15 months old and becoming extremely energetic and playful teenagers. They love to run, chase and play-fight with each other and, as they are now much bigger and stronger, their games can become quite rough and less easy to control and contain! For this reason, Wildlife Co-ordinator and Leopard Man, Shaun has decided that it is no longer safe to take both leopards out for walks together as he doesn't want to run the risk of any volunteers being placed in danger. So the two siblings are now being taken out for solo walks.
Ombeli was the first one to go out for a walk on his own and he seemed to love the extra freedom and attention! As soon as he was released from the truck to start his walk, he climbed straight on top of the truck to see if he could spot any wild animals/potential prey! Then once he was coaxed down from the truck and set off on his walk he promptly disappeared into the bushes chasing an oryx. For over an hour Ombeli happily hunted in bushes whilst Shaun and the volunteers looked for him, until he finally decided to give up the hunt and let Shaun find him! It is amazing how well the leopard's camouflage works when he doesn't want to be seen!
In comparison Shakira was a positive paragon on her first solo walk! She obediently stayed away from the bushes and spent most of her walk happily sitting up a tree trying to bat down a bird's nest onto the volunteers' heads!
