Tracking a leopard

If you are looking for a leopard, these tips will help you to track one. 

Look out for:

All the pictures are the Karula female leopard, from Northern Sabi Sands, taken in 2008.

Leopard tracks. 

They are around 10cm in length, with 3 lobes, 4 toes and there will be no claw marks.

Scat. 

These are usually 2-3cm in diameter and deposited at random. The first scat after meat is black and full of blood (and meat). These are mostly found when leopards are on their way to go drink water. The scat are in lobes and tapers off at the end.

Staring.

Giraffe will stare at leopards that they can see so follow their stares.

Vervet monkeys, squirrels, guinea fowls, francolins, bateleur and tawny eagles can be perched in the same tree or close by. 

Kills in trees. 

Look between the branches. The leopard will be close by.

Tell tale signs. 

These include: 

• Fur or feathers on ground
• Scrapes on ground 

• Drag marks 
• Claw marks on trees.