Memorable moments can happen within seconds in the game reserve. Shannen Schlooz managed to film this epic moment in the heartbeat that it took to unfold just off the H3.
Impala rams graze peacefully
Some impala ram were grazing peacefully just off the side of the road. Impala rams often form what are called ‘bachelor herds’. A bachelor herd is a group made up entirely of males which do not control territories or have access to breeding females.
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With impala, social structure changes with age and season. Young males are born into mixed herds with females, but as they mature, they are pushed out by dominant territorial rams. These displaced males join other non-territorial males, forming bachelor herds. Older males that have lost their territories may also join these groups.
Leopard launches blitz attack
Just like that, a leopard appeared on the scene. The stealth animal had been in hiding, however, leopards are known for their ambush attacks and this one suddenly made its presence known.
It launched out at the impala with all fury, shattering the peace of the moment and transforming the bushveld surrounds into a scene of chaos.
A leopard’s hunting strategy relies heavily on concealment. Leopards use tall grass, riverbanks, rocky outcrops, and dense bush to approach prey undetected. They move slowly and deliberately, often crouching low to keep their spotted coat blended with shadow and vegetation.
They typically attempt to get within five to ten metres before launching an attack. When they strike, they can reach speeds of around 55 to 60km/h over short distances.
The impala turned to flee within seconds, displaying incredible reaction time.
Leopard pursues impala ram
The leopard made a beeline for one of the impala rams. Within moments it had closed in on the buck and it appeared it was game over for the animal.
One of the impala rams quickly ran out of the way, while the leopard made full contact with its desired prey.
Impala appears to do backflip as its fights to get away
Then the miraculous happened. While thrown into the air, the impala appeared to do a backflip and landed on its feet. Incredibly, it continued to run. This animal was a fighter and the will to live gave it the strength to do what appeared impossible.
Leopard hot on impala’s tail as it runs away
The leopard continued to pursue the impala. It attempted to close the distance between itself and the impala, however, did not succeed. The impala managed to get away.
The impala’s incredible aerobatic stunt left Shannen stunned, and she was fortunate to have captured it all on film. The attack and great escape had literally unfolded within a few seconds and had Shannen not had her eyes wide open, the moment would have gone unnoticed. On game drives, the incredible often occupies a short frame of time, and while it’s all about being in the right place at the right time, paying attention is also important.