One of the leading causes of infant mortality among predators is other predators. In this footage, a mother leopard keeps a wary eye on an approaching threat.
Rodney Nombekana submitted this tense footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it on the H5 road in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Lucky with leopards
As Rodney told Latest Sightings, when his earlier efforts to find a leopard and her cub near Gomondwane Dam failed, he decided to move on. Subsequently, he discovered another female and cub along the H5.
You can see that the cub is just a few months old. As such, it is entirely dependent on its mother.
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Defensive instincts
For the young leopard, its environment is a place that has yet to be discovered, much less understood. Accordingly, its behaviour is quite skittish.
Consequently, when it spots something behind it, it crouches low. Mom, meanwhile, saunters up the road without a care.
However, when she turns to check on her cub, she notices they are not alone. At the same time, the cub instinctively runs for cover in the long grass alongside the road.
Protective parent
Like any good parent, the leopard is not one to take chances with her offspring. Accordingly, she keeps a close eye on the potential threat.
And, when it continues to approach, she escalates her vigilance with a warning snarl.
Subsequently, she turns to face the as yet unseen challenge.
With her head held low in warning, she is ready to do whatever is necessary.
Relaxed and in control
It would seem that her actions cause the unknown pursuer to pause. Consequently, the mother leopard moves closer to her cub, who is peeking out from the grass to her left.
The female’s behaviour suggests that she is experienced.
By lying down, she is telling us she is relaxed and in control.
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Skittish cub
However, the same cannot be said for the cub. Perhaps because the unseen threat resumed its approach, the little one bolts from cover.
As it does, Mom snarls once more and gets up to follow her cub.
Threat identified
When a spotted hyena runs into view, we finally realise what has been bothering the leopards.
Hyenas often follow predators, hoping to steal a few scraps of food if the opportunity arises. Of concern, however, is the fact that it might go after the cub.
Knowing this, the mother leopard does her best to keep it at bay with warnings. Rather than an outright attack that might cause her injury, she hopes her warnings will be enough.
But the hyena is undeterred and continues approaching. Sensibly, the mother follows her cub into the grass as the video ends.
Considering that only ten percent of cubs survive to adulthood in Kruger, let’s hope Mom found a safe place to hide her cub until the threat passed.
