A tense wildlife encounter unfolded when a leopard and a crocodile faced one another at the edge of a waterhole in the Kruger National Park.
Leopard emerges out of the thicket
This majestic leopard was sighted walking out of the bushes and through the long grass in a breathtaking moment witnessed by Abhijit Achare.
The handsome fellow knew exactly what he was after, and this was a drink of water!
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Leopards are powerful and highly adaptable hunters, however, they are also cautious animals that generally avoid unnecessary confrontations.
As this leopard walked towards the water, the last thing he expected was to come face to face with a crocodile.
Though leopards are apex predators, they are still highly cautious around crocs, which have an exceptionally powerful bite force. The bite force of a large male croc is around 3 000 to 5 000 psi, although exact measurements vary depending on the individual and how the force is measured.
Leopard heads towards water’s edge for a drink
Animals are often left vulnerable when they approach water sources for a drink of water.
This is because crocodiles and hippos often lurk within the watery depths. This crocodile had come right up onto the embankment, and it appeared to be basking in the sunlight.
Leopard sights croc on bank
When the leopard spotted the croc, he immediately stood to attention. The croc lay quite contently between him and the water.
For a moment he took in the croc’s size, possibly calculating his options. Was a drink really worth it if this big guy was in the way?
Both leopard and crocodiles rely heavily on body language and positioning. The leopard kept his distance while remaining ready to retreat. The crocodile watched for any movement which would bring the leopard within its range.
Neither predator necessarily wanted to waste valuable energy on a fight which could result in serious injury.
A show of incredible restraint
The leopard was determined not to take his focus off of the crocodile. The crocodile, in the meantime, held its ground, not even flinching.
Every now and then the leopard would shift his position and bear his teeth in a display of dominance, however, he received no reaction from the crocodile, which refused to budge and give the leopard access to the water.
The safest outcome for both animals was simply to give each other space. A leopard has little to gain from confronting a large crocodile, while a crocodile does not need to attack unless the opportunity presents itself. In the wild, avoiding injury can be just as important as winning a confrontation.
In this tense encounter, neither animal was willing to make the first careless move. The rare sighting was also tinged with a measure of humour, as the leopard observed the croc, seeming as though his peace had been rattled; while the smug croc lay still and refused to give the leopard a reaction.
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