Leopard sightings are always special, more so when it’s a female and her cub. In this sighting, a funny moment made it extra memorable.
Mark and Olha submitted this footage to Latest Sightings. They filmed it on the H1-4 in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Watch the video here:
Riverside relaxation
We join Mark and Olha as they marvel at the sight before them. A mother leopard and her cub are bonding on the side of a stream.
True to form, the cub is interested in everything around him. Meanwhile, his Mom patiently watches his antics as he splashes in the shallow water.
Time to go
When the cub goes to drink some water, Mom decides it’s time they got a move on. However, to get to the other side of the river, they must either wade through it or jump.
Perhaps showing a cat’s typical reluctance to get wet, Mom prepares to jump over the 2-metre-wide stream.
Lift-off
As Junior looks on, she coils her powerful muscles. Then, in an explosive release of energy, she launches herself into the air.
With practiced ease, she makes it across without wetting her paws. Adult leopards can jump up to 6 meters (20 feet) horizontally and 3 meters (10 feet) vertically. So for her, this is no big deal.
Meanwhile, Junior has been watching with a mixture of awe and trepidation. If he’s to keep up with Mom, he’ll have to repeat the feat next.
Look Ma!
As Mom scans the surroundings for any sign of danger, Junior imitates her earlier behaviour. First, he crouches down, tensing his body for the jump.
Being much smaller than his mother, he’s going to have to give this his all. With barely any hesitation, he too springs into the air.
As he lifts off, it looks like he’s got this. However, as he soars through the air, it becomes apparent that he has slightly misjudged the trajectory.
Consequently, his jump is a fraction too short. As a result, while his front paws reach dry land, his hind paws splash into the water.
Hearing the splash, Mom turns to see what happened. Seeing her cub is essentially safe, she’s ready to get going again.
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I’m okay Mom
Still, she gives Junior a moment to catch up and have a good shake to dry off. While all this is going on, Mark and Olha are beside themselves with happiness.
Then, to their added delight, the mother and cub started walking along the riverbed straight towards them.
As they do, Junior looks back at his Mum, as if asking what other adventures await.
A strong but temporary bond
As “single Moms”, female leopards must invest a great deal of time and energy into raising their young. After hiding them from danger for the first few weeks of life, she is her cubs’ near-constant companion for about eighteen months
During this time, the cub learns everything it needs for adulthood by observing and imitating Mom’s behaviour. Once it can hunt on its own, the cub leaves its mother, as she prepares to raise the next generation.