Anyone who’s followed my blog will know of a famous leopard in South Luangwa called Alice. She wowed us with wonderful sightings for more than 10 years, and has only recently succumbed to old age (she hasn’t been seen since November so we fear the worst).
But her legend of astounding behaviour (even in the presence of safari vehicles) lives on in at least 3 generations of cubs who are still regularly seen. Two cubs in particular – named Lucy and Davy by local guides – who were born in February 2012 have given us an insight into the early years of a leopard’s life.
Davy has moved north and I last saw him around 20km from his natal range. But Lucy still hunts the same gullies and areas that her mother trained her on. She can be found most days in the Mbomboza wa-Milombe area of the park, and regularly kills antelope and small primates to the joy of visitors.
But her activities have taken on a new meaning this year because she has borne a cub! This cub is around 4 months old now and has begun accompanying Mum when she goes hunting. This evening, the pair of them gave me one of my most memorable sightings of Lucy when they climbed up onto a fallen tree and rested together in the last rays of evening.
