In a young leopard’s life, one of the most important milestones is making its first kill. In this video, tourists were privileged to witness just such a moment.
Brent Schnupp submitted this exciting footage to Latest Sightings. He took this video just south of Olifants Rest Camp near the S147, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
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As we join Brent at the sighting, we see a young female leopard crossing the road. Around it, numerous vehicles jostle for a view.
The most seldom-seen member of the Big Five, leopards are a highlight on any game drive. Guides have nicknamed this youngster Moyo, and she is already well habituated to the presence of vehicles.
Hunting mode activated
By her low-slung posture, we can tell that she is in hunting mode. Her low profile and camouflage drastically reduce the chance of prey spotting her as she approaches.
Consequently, as she leaves the road, we hear Brent say that there is a steenbok nearby. Most importantly, it is unaware of the predator’s presence.
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Cover & camouflage
Subsequently, she makes her way across fairly open terrain. Showing experience beyond her years, she makes use of what little cover there is as she gets closer to her target.
A leopard’s spots serve to break up the animal’s outline, allowing it to very effectively merge into a number of landscape types.
Singular focus
Furthermore, she focuses her attention solely on the steenbok. So long as it is not looking in her direction, she is free to move.
Additionally, each step is carefully placed, thereby eliminating the chance of being heard by her prey. Furthermore, predators often approach their targets from downwind to avoid their scent giving them away.
Short & sharp
All of these steps are vital in getting her to the next phase of the hunt. Leopards are ambush hunters that must get within striking range before launching the actual attack.
As a result, having approached to a critical distance without detection, she launches her attack. Accelerating to 60 km/h in just a few strides, she charges towards the unsuspecting antelope.
However, her path takes her behind a fallen tree, and, as such, we don’t see the moment of impact. All that is visible is the steenbok’s desperate thrashing as it tries to escape Moyo’s clutches.
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Milestone unlocked
A short while later, however, Brent’s patience is rewarded when Moyo reappears. At her feet lies the limp body of her first significant kill.
Young leopards generally stay with their mothers for up to two years. As such, they must learn to fend for themselves before reaching independence.
Keeping the kill
As solitary predators, leopards risk losing their prey to larger predators, like lions and hyenas. Consequently, she needs to leave the area before any arrive.
Wasting no time, she drags her prize to a nearby tree.
Moments later, she hides both herself and her kill safely in the tree’s canopy.
Well done, Moyo! You’re well on your way to becoming a safari superstar.
