Unlike how they’re depicted in cartoons, warthogs and big cats don’t always get along famously. Big cats would happily prey on the big pigs, while the warthogs try and fight back with their dangerous tusks.
For a fight to occur though, they have to see each other first. It’s possible this cheetah wasn’t particularly hungry, or maybe it just didn’t fancy its chances against this particular pig, but it opted to hide instead.
Newton Mulenga caught this sighting on camera and sent the footage in to Latest Sightings. The cheetah, at the Kafue National Park in Zambia, endured its close encounter with the warthog, and both lived to tell the tale.
Stealth Expert
The cheetah was already in place in the long grass when the warthog came trotting happily up the narrow road. It’s unclear whether or not the cheetah was actively hunting, as they’re elusive animals at the best of times, that use their stealth to ambush their prey.
It may have been that this big cat was just waiting for the opportune moment to leap out at the hog, but that moment never came. The warthog, for its part, seemed to be completely unaware of the dangerous predator lurking in the long grass nearby.
All The Time In The World
As the warthog approached, the cheetah remained very still, no doubt very aware that the slightest movement might make some noise and tip the warthog off to its presence.
The warthog, meanwhile, was completely carefree, looking like it was off for a nice daytime stroll. Even as it picked up its pace a little, perhaps sensing something nearby, it never gave off the impression of being alarmed, or panicked.
Time For A Dash Of Invisibility
When the warthog drew closer to the big cat, it suddenly veered off to the side of the road. It wasn’t clear whether or not it was able to see the cheetah, or knew its proximity to a dangerous predator, but it was obviously able to sense something waiting in the long grass.
The cheetah’s stealth appeared to have failed it, until it went almost completely invisible in the grass. It ducked down so low that not even Newton’s camera could detect it, let alone the warthog.
Still showing no signs of alarm, the confused hog gave the area a cursory investigation, but now the cheetah was completely undetectable, using all of its stealthy ability to remain unseen so it wouldn’t have to fight.
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Quieter Than The Breeze
The warthog, satisfied that there were no threats in the area, began to ease itself into the long grass as well. The little cheetah head poking up above the blades of grass to observe the hog leant an air of comedy to the observations.
Even with its head now above the grass, the cheetah remained completely unseen and the warthog continued on its way, jogging into the long grass while the big cat watched it go. If it had been looking for a good ambush opportunity, the cheetah had missed it now.
