Watch the Sighting:
The team at Safari Nest captured this heartbreaking moment while out on a game drive in Kruger National Park. After enjoying a leopard cub sighting earlier that morning, the group decided they wanted to go for a drive to Gardenia Hide along the S119.
It was on this road that they came across a family of cheetahs, a mother with her two cubs, walking and playing along the riverbed. The group was so captivated by the adorable cubs, that they didn’t spot the danger lurking nearby…
A Family in Peril
Out of nowhere, a leopard exploded out of the bushes, eyes locked on its unsuspecting prey! Even though it had likely been stalking family for a while, no one from the safari group had managed to spot it!
The sheer chaos of the situation had everyone gasping and crying out in surprise!
Unfortunately, the intensity and speed at which the leopard attacked, rendered one of the young cubs paralyzed on impact. It lay helplessly in the blazing heat.
Maternal Instinct Unleashed
In a flash of claws and teeth, the mother cheetah bolted to her cub’s aid, trying again and again to fend off the leopard. Unfortunately, with its larger body size, the leopard was not phased.
Eventually, the leopard managed to chase the mother back into the bushes, where she watched her little one in anguish. The safari group was heartbroken as they realized there was no hope left for the cub.
Claiming the Kill
Exhausted from all the chasing, the leopard retreated nearer to the injured cub, pausing to rest in the shade. The cub, knowing what future awaited it, struggled hard to get up and escape, but eventually wore itself out under the blistering sun.
Finally, the leopard put the cub out of its misery and dragged it away into the bushes to enjoy its meal. Not comprehending the gravity of the situation, and clouded with grief, the mother and her remaining cub spent the next couple of days searching around the riverbed for their missing family member.
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The group from Safari Nest was reminded that day of the harsh realities that exist on a daily basis in the wild, and that even the fiercest predators face threats.
“Nobody could believe what they had just witnessed! This was the type of wildlife sighting you only see on TV.”
Speed Meets Stealth
Altercations between cheetahs and leopards are quite rare in the wild, as cheetahs usually flee when threatened by a larger predator. Their incredible speed typically helps them avoid aggressive encounters, but not when they are caught off guard.
In this uncommon situation, the mother was clearly occupied by her two cubs and couldn’t spot the approaching danger in time. The smaller body size of both the cheetah cub and mother were no match for the incredibly powerful leopard.