Gold and green

Today, just before sunset, within the Chikwete area, we spotted an adult male leopard resting within the tall array of grasses. His golden coat blended almost perfectly with the fading light, and only the flick of his tail betrayed his presence. He appeared relaxed but alert, eyes scanning the bush as impala grazed nearby. We observed him for nearly half an hour. At one point he moved silently and paused to scent mark, then melted into the mopane scrub. The guests were in awe - his elegance, power, and camouflage stirred deep appreciation.

You’ll notice he has a damaged or blind left eye. We don’t know what caused the damage but it could have been from hunting, fighting, confrontation or navigating thick bush. Less likely would be disease or infection, or a developmental or genetic cause.

Hunting: When tackling prey, leopards may sustain injuries from struggling animals. A sharp horn can easily poke a leopard in the eye.

Fighting: A fight with another leopard (for territory or mates) - a vicious swipe from a claw can easily hook out or severely damage an eyeball.

Confrontation: It’s not impossible that a leopard could be confronted by a snake such as a Mozambique spitting cobra, and venom spat into the leopard’s eye would cause severe damage.

Navigating thick bush: A sharp thorn or branch in dense vegetation can poke the eye - especially if a leopard is being chased by a rival.

Infection from injury: A minor scratch or corneal ulcer from a branch can become infected, leading to severe ocular inflammation, corneal scar tissue, and eventually loss of sight.

We’ve seen this resilient male on various occasions over the years and he appears to be doing very well despite this handicap. Each leopard sighting feels like a gift. They teach patience, stealth, and the art of silence. In guiding, such moments deepen our connection to the wild and remind us how important it is to look at the details and anomalies.