In this rare sighting, a male leopard is mating with two females who are sisters. The sisters come from different litters, and are in heat—or estrus—at the same time. The sounds of mating likely drew the older female to the edge of her territory.
Leopards are solitary, territorial animals—so sharing a mate in close proximity is unusual, but a Londolozi Game Reserve ranger observed multiple matings over several hours.
The sisters’ kinship likely made them more tolerant of each other’s presence, and the younger female, just 2.5 years old, is not yet territorial. The older female is now raising a litter of cubs, and it is possible that this mating in November 2017 resulted in the litter.
Although leopards are known to be solitary and territorial, the sister’s kinship likely made them more tolerant of each other’s presence. What are your thoughts on this mating behavior?
