The unbelievable moment was filmed in the Inyati Game Lodge whilst the production team had been filming The Year the Earth Changed for AppleTV
Fortunately for everyone involved, no-one was hurt; however, the leopard did come pretty close to the filming crew! In fact, he walked right past David McLerran and Gabriel Lawrance Keet with regal, unwavering steps.
Leopard makes grand appearance
The animal commanded all respect as he appeared on the scene.
He hadn’t been scripted into the film they were busy making and so his appearance caught everyone by surprise.
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The filmmakers also dared not run. They knew instinctively to stand still, and not give the majestic predator any reason to panic.
One of Africa’s most majestic big cats
Leopards are among the strongest of the big cats in Africa, as well as the most elusive.
They are also solitary animals by nature. They prefer to roam and hunt alone, only coming together to mate or when a mother is raising her cubs.
Each leopard maintains a territory, which it marks with scent and scratch marks on trees. They usually avoid each other to prevent conflicts, relying on their stealth and independence to survive.
A tentative moment of intense tension
This one studied the filmmakers and eyed them as he walked past them. No doubt, their hearts were pounding in their throats as he sauntered past them.
Despite their relatively smaller size compared to lions or tigers, leopards are still incredibly strong. They are also fast and agile, capable of sprinting at speeds up to 48 to 72km per hour and leaping over six metres a single bound.
This combination of strength and agility makes them versatile and effective predators. It’s also one of the reasons you might feel a little anxious if you come across one in the wild!
The leopard was breathtakingly beautiful and so one could almost forgive him for interrupting the filming process. He was also a leopard on a mission and seemed to know exactly where he was headed to. He didn’t hang around but continued walking in the same direction.
All the while, the filmmakers stood deadstill.
A ‘pretty mind-blowing encounter’
Those involved call the encounter a ‘surreal moment’ which was ‘pretty mind-blowing’, in their words.
The filmmakers said how in addition to standing still, they also avoided eye contact with the big cat as he had walked past, for safety purposes.
Goes to show that sometimes you can go out looking for game, and other times, it comes looking for you! This leopard found the production crew without them having to find him.
Leopards have the widest geographic range of all big cats. They can survive in diverse habitats including savannas, forests, mountains, and even deserts. This adaptability has made them one of the most successful large carnivores. They can live close to human settlements without being noticed, which speaks to their secretive nature.
Other times, they make their appearance known as this brazen leopard did. No doubt, Russ, David and Gabriel will never forget this incredible experience. They came up close and personal with a leopard in the wild and lived to share the experience. And they have the clipping to prove it!