Finding Leopards On Chillier Mornings – Londolozi Blog

Winter has started to descend upon Londolozi, its presence most felt in the mornings. Climbing into the Land Rover with only the dawn light leading the way, there is just enough time to head into the bush and witness the sunrise from one of the open crests. As you step into the vehicle, a warm welcome awaits in the form of a hot water bottle and fleece blanket, providing much-needed comfort as you start the morning’s adventure.

We, humans, have the advantage of layering up and can use blankets to shield ourselves from the crisp morning air. As you drive through the bush, carefully scanning for that golden-spotted coat or the white flick of a leopard’s tail, you wonder how these magnificent creatures adapt to the cold. Do they sense the cold as we do? And does this alter their behaviour? Could this change in behaviour affect how we seek them out on chillier mornings?

A study done by J. du P. Bothma and E.A.N. Ie Riche explored the relationship between minimum air temperature and the daily distances moved by leopards in the Kalahari. Through their research, they discovered that leopards tend to move significantly more in colder temperatures, particularly when hungry, as their basal metabolic rate increases during colder months. This is due to a higher energy demand to generate internal heat

Physically, leopards are equipped to handle the cold with their thick fur, which traps warm air close to their skin, providing insulation. They also develop an increased fat layer, serving as both insulation and extra energy storage. Presumably, this means leopards need to hunt more regularly in winter to meet their higher energy demands and need to build up more fat storage. This supports the research done by J. du P. Bothma and E.A.N. Ie Riche as a leopard will move more, the more they need to hunt.

What does this mean for your early morning winter safari in search of the elusive leopard? Before the sun rises, you may catch sight of a leopard on the move, as mentioned above they tend to be more active during winter. Scan the dirt roads, up game paths and through the bush carefully for any glimpse of them on their morning mission. If you’re lucky, you might witness a hunt, as leopards take advantage of the slower movements of their prey in the cold early mornings.

Once the sun is up, leopards, like us, enjoy basking in its warm rays to replenish their energy after a cold night. Look for them atop termite mounds, rocky outcrops, or fallen logs, where they soak up the sun’s rays, a peaceful and serene sight in the wild.