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Paul Wood was visiting the Pilanesberg National Park, when he witnessed a very unusual inter-species encounter. He submitted his video and account of the incident to Latest Sightings.
Days later, Lauren Pretorius submitted her images, taken while visiting the Kruger National Park, 600 kilometres to the east.
The first incident
Paul said that he was travelling on the Moloto Road when he came across a large troop of baboons walking in the opposite direction.
As he approached the last member of the troop — a young male — he noticed it had something tucked under its arm.
Bizarre discovery
To his surprise, when the baboon moved it revealed a tiny leopard cub. Initially, he assumed that it was dead as baboons and leopards are mortal enemies.
However, as the baboon manoeuvred its spotted prize, he was shocked to realise that the cub was still alive.
Paul said, “At that point, the sighting took on a whole new aspect… confronted, in nature, with something that seemed somehow… unnatural.
“An adult baboon shouldn’t be carrying around a leopard cub! The cub belongs with its mother!”
He hoped that the baboon would lose interest in the cub, hoping that its mother would be able to find it later. On the contrary, the baboon seemed to “care” for the cub.
Clumsy but gentle
According to Mr Wood, the baboon would frequently check on it, even going so far as to groom it. “He was quite gentle with it, if a little clumsy, but did not appear to want to harm it in any way.”
As its troop moved on ahead, the baboon continued to “look after” the helpless cub. It appears none of the other troop members were aware of the cub.
Lost sight
Eventually, the group of baboons left the road, heading into long grass where Paul soon lost sight of the unlikely pair.
Sentry duty
It is safe to assume that this baboon was a sentry for the troop, given his behaviour. Often this role is assigned to low-ranking members.
Animal behaviourists suggest that by “adopting” the cub, the baboon may have hoped to elevate his social standing.
Whether his ploy succeeded is, like the fate of the cub, a mystery.
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Survival unlikely
However, it is unlikely that the cub survived. Firstly, it appears to be only a few weeks old and therefore dependent on its mother for milk.
Secondly, given the enmity between the species, when other baboons discovered the baby leopard in their midst, they would probably attack it immediately.
Second sighting
Weight was added to the latter theory when days later, Lauren Pretorius also photographed a baboon with a cub.
In this case, however, the cub was dead. Judging by its partially dismembered remains, it appears that the baboon had killed and eaten part of it.
As was the case before, the baboon carried its prize along with it as it made its way through the bush. Again, this may have been with the intention of climbing the troop hierarchy.
Another reason for killing the cub would be to eliminate a future threat.
Gregarious omnivores
Baboons live in large social groups with a distinct hierarchy. They are well-known for coming to the aid of their fellows when threatened.
They are omnivorous by nature, feeding on a mix of plants, fruits, vertebrates, invertebrates, eggs and more.