When a leopard stumbled upon a pair of honey badgers, it was left in no doubt that it was unwelcome. Watch as two of Africa’s iconic species come face-to-face.
Peter Craig-Cooper submitted this amazing footage to Latest Sightings. He witnessed the interaction while visiting South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Patrolling her patch
Peter and his partner were watching a female leopard patrolling her Kruger domain.
As they watched, the spotted beauty busied herself by checking out various scents she found along the way.
Delighted to see the leopard in broad daylight, Peter monitored her progress using his powerful camera zoom.
No action
As the leopard moved further away, it seemed the sighting would soon end without much action.
Still, he enjoyed watching her move fearlessly through her environment.
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Things take a turn
However, as the leopard approached a small mound, the sighting took a sudden turn. Suddenly, an enraged honey badger confronted it.
Honey badgers are notoriously bold creatures, and this one was making no bones about the fact that the predator was intruding.
Double trouble
Seconds later, a second, equally angry badger emerged.
It would seem that the leopard had inadvertently stumbled on their den. Furthermore, it seems likely the pair had pups hidden below, possibly explaining their consequent behaviour.
Taking no chances
Subsequently, the predator walked directly over the mound without skipping a beat.
Even so, the badgers were taking no chances. With tails raised signalling their agitation, they tracked the predator across the rocky terrain.
For her part, the leopard was remarkably calm. It would seem that she had prior experience with honey badgers and knew better than to mess with them.
Teamwork
Working as a team, the two badgers continued hurling abuse at the leopard. This is not unusual for the species.
Individuals have been known to fend off entire lion prides, so they probably felt they were more than a match for the passing predator.
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Misleading
As the interaction continued, it seemed as if the badgers were intentionally leading the leopard away from their burrow.
As she walked, they would run ahead of her before turning to antagonise her further.
The leopard, meanwhile, remained unfazed by their provocative behaviour. At times, she stopped to survey her surroundings, perhaps hoping that if she ignored them, they would leave her alone.
Reputations intact
Even so, the badgers maintained their watch as if daring the predator to put a paw out of place.
For their size, they are incredibly tough creatures, with powerful bites and claws to match. However, leopards are no pushovers, and they are also capable of defending themselves against the odds.
Accordingly, when the badgers got too close, all it took was a snarl or two to remind them that they’re not the only ones whose reputation precedes them. As the video ends, it seems both animals walked away with their fearsome status intact. No shame in that.