The Lost Leopard

This is Tavangumi, a very popular male leopard in the Sabi Sand Reserve. He became a star of Wild Earth safaris and obtained thousands of fans world over. But being popular doesn’t save you in the wild. 

A couple of weeks before this photograph was taken, Tavangumi was caught in a man-made snare which led to serious injuries. His recovery was equally miraculous. When I saw him on this fateful evening, I was astounded to see him walking about with ease with only a scar as a proof of his injuries.

The very next day news broke that Tavangumi, the beloved male leopard had been put down by Sabi Sands officials. His injuries had led to some abnormal behaviours, which included fatally wounding a dog, and continuously stalking a human and trying to gain access to their living quarters. In fact, when I saw him, he was just a few feet away from the park gate, watching people. His injury and inability to hunt clearly drove him too close to people. I did not know it then, but I was one of the last people to see this beautiful leopard alive. He was put down within a few hours of this photograph being taken.

Tavangumi’s story broke my heart, there are so many beautiful wild animals caught in human-wildlife conflict every single day. As wild areas shrink and human footprints grow, it seems like an inevitable fate for some species. Snares, spears, poisons, nothing is off limits. I can only hope that this sad story is never repeated for any animal, famous or not.

​Sabi Sands Game Reserve, 2023