Jaco van Schalkwyk
View Artist Biography
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SOLD
Title:
TAVANGUMI - BORN OF SURVIVAL
New:
NEW
Medium:
Oil on belgian linen
Category:
Original paintings
Category:
Oil
Size:
32 X 24
INV. #:
JVS31096
Tavangumi - Born Of Survival
Some losses shake us deeply. Tavangumi’s passing is one of them — a magnificent young leopard with extraordinary genetics, gone too soon. His story is a stark reminder of the fragile balance between
wilderness and the pressures that threaten it.
This painting was inspired by a photograph taken during one of Tavangumi’s territorial patrols searching for his next meal. A moment of strength captured before the world failed him.
Born in February 2018 in the Western Sabi Sands, Tavangumi grew into a powerful territorial male in the north, carrying the unmistakable strength of his lineage. In June 2023, his life took a devastating turn
when he was caught in a poacher’s snare, leaving a severe wound wrapped around his body. Rangers and veterinarians intervened, operating and monitoring him for days to come as he fought to recover.
After almost 2 weeks, he managed to hunt an impala by himself again, only to lose his hard-earned kill to lions. Escalating conflict sealed his fate soon after. Following an incident in which he attempted to
catch an anti-poaching dog, Tavangumi was euthanized. Heartbreakingly, his father and half-sibling met similar ends, each lost to human-wildlife pressures that continue to threaten these iconic cats.
The Sabi Sands remains a beacon of conservation, where guides, lodges, and dedicated teams work tirelessly to protect its magic. Respect for wildlife matters. Ethical guiding matters. We stand with those who safeguards this wilderness — ensuring its beauty is celebrated, not tarnished.
Some losses shake us deeply. Tavangumi’s passing is one of them — a magnificent young leopard with extraordinary genetics, gone too soon. His story is a stark reminder of the fragile balance between
wilderness and the pressures that threaten it.
This painting was inspired by a photograph taken during one of Tavangumi’s territorial patrols searching for his next meal. A moment of strength captured before the world failed him.
Born in February 2018 in the Western Sabi Sands, Tavangumi grew into a powerful territorial male in the north, carrying the unmistakable strength of his lineage. In June 2023, his life took a devastating turn
when he was caught in a poacher’s snare, leaving a severe wound wrapped around his body. Rangers and veterinarians intervened, operating and monitoring him for days to come as he fought to recover.
After almost 2 weeks, he managed to hunt an impala by himself again, only to lose his hard-earned kill to lions. Escalating conflict sealed his fate soon after. Following an incident in which he attempted to
catch an anti-poaching dog, Tavangumi was euthanized. Heartbreakingly, his father and half-sibling met similar ends, each lost to human-wildlife pressures that continue to threaten these iconic cats.
The Sabi Sands remains a beacon of conservation, where guides, lodges, and dedicated teams work tirelessly to protect its magic. Respect for wildlife matters. Ethical guiding matters. We stand with those who safeguards this wilderness — ensuring its beauty is celebrated, not tarnished.