When a leopard spotted a vulnerable target across an open area, nothing deterred it. Showing a combination of stealth and experience, the cat soon got within striking distance.
Reggi Barreto from MalaMala Private Game Reserve sent this amazing video to Latest Sightings.
Leopard crawl
Our story begins on the banks of the Sand River. A leopard emerges from the adjacent riverbed, keeping a low profile.
Immediately, it is obvious that the leopard is in hunting mode. With no cover to speak of, the spotted cat holds its body close to the ground as it inches forward in an eponymous leopard crawl.
Rosettes, not spots
The lack of cover is an obvious drawback. With no place to hide, the leopard is relying entirely on stealth and its amazingly effective camouflage markings.
A leopard’s coat has a tawny background overlaid with so-called rosettes. These black markings serve to disrupt the cat’s outline, making it difficult for prey to identify it by shape.
Pause, creep, repeat
As the leopard moves forward, its attention remains focused on its target’s behaviour. When the unseen prey looks up, the leopard freezes.
However, when it dips its head to feed, the predator creeps forward on its belly. When it looks away, she takes a few long strides to close the distance between them.
Target identified
Finally, we glimpse the leopard’s intended victim. An impala lamb emerges from under a small tree in the upper-left quadrant of the image below.
As it walks away from the predator, the leopard slinks ever closer. Another factor that is aiding the leopard is the antelope’s youthful ignorance.
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Constantly evaluating
Despite the progress it has made, the leopard pauses every so often to evaluate its strategy. Patience is another key attribute of experienced leopards on the hunt.
Despite their obvious hunting prowess, not every hunt equates to success. Depending on the surrounding habitat, their success rate ranges between 14 and 37%.
Stalk resumed
As the lamb continues to move away from the leopard, the predator resumes its stalk. Vulnerable to exposure by sight or sound, the cat carefully places her hind paw exactly where her forepaw was, thereby reducing the chance of accidental noise.
Although leopards are typically considered nocturnal creatures, their incredible adaptability means they will hunt opportunistically at any time of day. That said, they are most successful when hunting at night with no moon.
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Final moments
Subsequently, the spotted killer gets within range. Leopards will generally try to stalk to within ten metres of their target. Then, they launch a blitz attack, accelerating up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in just a few strides.
As it sets off, the lamb is in the dense thicket to the left of the above image. In seconds, the leopard races across the last few metres of open terrain towards the still unsuspecting lamb.
Although it disappears from view, a quickly muffled bleat confirms that the predator has been successful. The unfortunate lamb has no chance against the leopard’s deadly fangs and overwhelming strength.
The taste of success
Moments later, the leopard returns to the riverbed, her kill securely gripped by the neck.
Although it’s not much of a meal, it will sustain the predator until the next time its deadly skills are required.