Watch the sighting here:
Ranger Daniel Hitchings submitted his record of the dramatic interaction to Latest Sightings. He recorded it on a game drive at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.
Hitchings said that he joined a leopard sighting after a quiet morning game drive. In windy conditions, the leopard was on the prowl for its next meal.
Change of focus
Then, while using a termite mound as a vantage point, the leopard suddenly became interested in a burrow in the side of the mound.
Suddenly a large warthog emerged which the leopard immediately tackled.
There ensued a titanic battle as the similarly sized beasts wrestled for dominance. Fighting for its life, the warthog gave as good as it got, at one point, throwing the leopard onto its back.
Desperate to subdue its prey, the leopard held on grimly with teeth and claws.
Tables turned
Then, in a massive show of strength, the leopard somehow managed to seize the advantage. Momentarily airborne, the entangled pair somersaulted, resulting in the leopard being able to pin the squealing hog to the ground.
Now lying on its back, it looked like the warthog’s time had come. With its windpipe clamped in the leopard’s jaws, its death seemed imminent.
Unexpected arrival
Nature, if anything is unpredictable, a fact that was made clear by the sudden arrival of a spotted hyena from the right.
Without hesitation, the newcomer headed straight for the squealing warthog.
Unfortunately, the hyena ran behind a bush, obscuring our view of exactly what happened next.
Facing a new threat
Then it appears it may have bitten the hog’s leg. In response, the pig somehow found the strength to dislodge itself from the leopard’s clutches to face the new threat.
Tables turned again
In the process, the warthog regained its feet and still had plenty of fight. Free of the jaws of both the leopard and the hyena, it went on the offensive.
For self-defence, warthogs are equipped with sharp tusks. Now free to attack, the enraged hog attempted to gore the leopard’s belly.
The leopard sprang backwards, narrowly avoiding injury. No sooner did it land than the pig again charged, forcing it to again leap high into the air.
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Decisions on the fly
While flying through the air, it appears that the leopard still found time to reassess its decision to tackle this particular pig.
Meanwhile, the hyena made the wise decision to avoid the mayhem, at least until the dust settled.
When the leopard landed, its first priority was staying clear of the hog’s slashing tusks, causing it to run off a short distance
Taking the gap
With that, the brave warthog spotted an escape route and took it without hesitation. Consequently, the two bewildered predators took a moment to realise their planned meal was on the run.
Daniel said the warthog had returned to the relative safety of its burrow, “After the injured warthog got away, it ended up sitting in the hole for another two days with the leopard and some hyenas staying close by.”
He added that eventually the leopard pulled it out, only to lose it to the hyenas once and for all.
Pumbaa the brave
In “The Lion King”, the warthog appers as loyal, kind and absent-minded. Based on this video, we could easily add bravery to that list.
Although the warthog eventually died, its behaviour in the video showcases the species’ courage in the face of danger. They frequently survive stand-offs with Africa’s largest predators. Bear this in mind should you ever encounter one while walking in the bush.