Wallys

Phil Perry Wildlife Photos: Leopard Profiles:

Leopard Profiles: Wallys

Wallys was born c. 1994 and has been the dominant male over the western part of the Western Sabi Sands since 1999. He regularly mates with about four or five females that live in his territory: Makwela, Shangwa, Tai Dam Female and Hippo Dam Female. His major rival is the Othawa male who lives on his eastern boundary - who also mates with Shangwa. His name derives from where he was first seen, Wallingford Farm.

Always on the move, Wallys covers an enormous amount of territory on a weekly or even daily basis as he keeps track of all his females and keeps his territory well marked (by scent and sound - territorial calling) to keep out rival males. When Makwela was raising her three female cubs, Wallys would often be seen with all four females - disproving the 'solitary animal' label that has so often been ascribed to leopards.

Wallys is probably Africa's luckiest leopard (and one of its most characterful). Living where he does he has a game-proof fence guarding the northern, southern and western edges of his territory. So he only has to defend the eastern approach to his territory. While leopards can easily cross the game fence (and Makwela, for one, often does) big cats often use a fenceline as a 'natural' territorial boundary.

If you have any comments or views on the photos or leopards in general, please do email me at the address below:

phil@pperrywildlifephotos.org.sz