Andi witnessed some close-up action, as the leopard dragged its prey in full view of the car, to an area where it could feed on the kill in seclusion.
Striking hunt draws attention
Leopards are solitary predators, relying on patience, silence, and calculated precision to bring down prey. This one used dense cover as concealment, stalking the warthog until it was close enough to launch a short, explosive ambush.
Warthogs are tough opponents. A male warthog can weight over 100kg. They also have razor-sharp tusks capable of inflicting serious injury.
This warthog wasn’t about to give up so easily once the leopard had it in its jaws. The determined warthog continued to put up a fight.
The leopard dragged the warthog along the ground of the dense bushveld, with the animal still alive as it was carried along. It was a heartbreaking scene.
The warthog was not about to relent, without doing its utmost to evade death.
The riveting moment allowed Andi and other spectators to see from close-up how large a warthog can be. The leopard was able to successfully carry the warthog in its jaws, in spite of its comparatively large size.
The leopard maintained its composure as it walked along. The warthog, however, was clearly in distress. Its limbs kicked out at the leopard in an attempt at self-defense. It was incapable of using its tusks in defense at this point, as the leopard held it by its throat.
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Leopard crouches in long grass to subdue prey
The leopard eventually settled in the long grass, crouching down with its prey beneath it.
The warthog resisted the leopard with all of its might, and the leopard used its weight and gripping bite to subdue the animal.
The tussle between warthog and leopard continued for a few heartrending moments. Legs kicked out as the warthog writhed in pain.
The leopard kept on shifting its position, to subdue the resilient animal.
This was no easy kill for the predator, however, the leopard was well-trained in hunting and killing skills, and persisted.
Warthog succumbs to leopard’s attack
The warthog’s head could be seen now, as the leopard moved towards the animal’s centre. It was a tragic moment, as the creature finally grew still. However, also a moment of great mercy. The warthog was relieved of its pain.
The brave warthog had fought with every fibre of its being, however, it stood no chance against one of Africa’s greatest predators.
With the warthog now motionless, the leopard was now free to begin feeding.
Warthog meat provides a rich, protein-heavy reward, and for a leopard, this means days of feeding if it can keep the kill safe. The carcass will be consumed almost entirely. This means that meat, organs, and even some smaller bones will be devoured.
However, leopards tend to leave the thick hide and tusks.
For those like Andy, lucky enough to see a scene such as this unfold, the moment captured the raw reality of survival in the wild.