In an adorable and heart-stopping encounter, a gosling makes its way into the path of a leopard cub. Read on to learn how the gosling miraculously outwitted the leopard cub and lived to tell the tail!
Watch the Sighting:
Benji Solms, a guide from Serondella Game Lodge, was out on safari near a peaceful riverbank when he spotted a resident leopardess with her cub enjoying a recent kill. Benji and his group watched the young cub run up and down the riverbank, hearts warmed by its playful nature.
Goslings Stumble Into a Predator’s Path
Just then, Benji and his group spotted something they did not expect: a handful of goslings wandering up the riverbed and towards the leopardess and her cub!
The cub, intrigued by the movement, went over to investigate. This caused the goslings to dart into the bushes for cover immediately.
In an act of bravery or stupidity, one of the goslings emerged from the bushes and wandered right into the path of the leopard cub. The cub watched it briefly, wondering how a meal could have presented itself so easily.
The Leopard Cub Strikes
Finally, the gosling noticed the cub who knew it was time to pounce. The gosling’s feathers rustled in a desperate dash for cover beneath the safari vehicle.
After some time, the gosling emerged. Unfortunately, the coast was not clear as the leopard cub had waited patiently for its meal and was now ready to seize its opportunity.
As the cub chased the gosling up the riverbed, the gosling knew its options were limited. In a smart play, the gosling dropped to the ground and played dead.
Benji and his group held their breaths as they watched the cub pick up the limp gosling. “The leopard then took its prize up into a nearby tree, and we all thought it was the end for the little bird”.
A High-Stakes Escape
The gosling now up in a tree, found itself defenceless. As it continued to play dead, a strike of luck hit the bird and it fell right out of the tree!
The leopard cub watched its meal as it continued to lay on the ground completely limp. Benji and his group feared the worst.
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Finally, the brave little gosling took its shot and made a break for the bushes where its siblings remained hidden. Its act of bravery miraculously paid off because, the leopard was unable to locate it in the end.
Playing Dead Saves the Day
Many animals fake their death as an anti-predator strategy, including birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects! In this sneaky trick, the prey will go into a state of paralysis which can be useful to avoid predators who catch live prey (such as leopards).
The little gosling carefully monitored every moment while it was in the jaws of the leopard cub, waiting for the opportune moment to escape. In the end, its courage and quick thinking remind us that even in the wildest corners of nature, the smallest creatures can leave us in awe with their will to survive!