This page contains information on the female Vukile.
Vukile
This beautiful young animal was born in the summer of 2005. She inhabits the dense fever tree forests at the back of the Hlambanyathi dam, and also ventures into the river right up to the lodge. Facial spot pattern comparison confirmed that this is indeed Matilda's cub which was photographed several times when she was still with her mother.
She has been fitted with a VHF collar for tracking purposes, but we will make an intensive effort to catch her again and fit her with her GPS collar. At just over 3 years of age she is already quite big with her mother's genetics no doubt playing a large role in this. She was named Vukile (to be awake) as she caused a great commotion when she woke up just as we finished putting on her collar.
Vukile November 2007