Watch The Sighting:
In the Okavango in Botswana, safari-goer Ian M got more than he bargained for when he set his GoPro on the ground, hoping to catch some candid shots of nature. What he got instead was a front-row view of one of Africa’s most elusive predators, up close and personal!
A Sniff, A Nibble, And A Getaway
A young leopard slinked into the camera’s view with feline curiosity in its eyes. The camera continued to quietly record what would become a once-in-a-lifetime encounter as the predator began to creep slowly towards it.
The leopard, cautious yet inquisitive, eventually made it to the GoPro, and began to sniff at the strange black box, tilting its head like a housecat eyeing a new toy. Ian couldn’t believe the content he was capturing, but he never could have predicted what would happen next!
With astonishing delicacy, the leopard clamped its jaws around the GoPro and trotted off, turning the camera into a stowaway. As the leopard ran, the camera captured every bouncing, breathless moment from the inside of the cat’s mouth as it was whisked away across the savannah like a chew toy.
Finally, after a few minutes, the leopard gently set the camera down in the grass, and the film stopped. One can only imagine how surprised Ian was upon recovering his camera fully intact and watching this footage back.
From Predator To Cameraman
Leopards are famously elusive, but they’re also very curious. Like all cats, they’re drawn to textures, smells, and movement, especially in unfamiliar objects
Cameras make for irresistible toys, no threat, no chase, just something new to inspect. Wildlife researchers have noted similar behaviour across multiple big cat species when unfamiliar human objects enter their territory.
What’s fascinating about this footage is how gently the leopard handles the GoPro. There’s no smashing, no aggressive biting, just a few moments of exploration followed by a surprisingly careful relocation.
It’s as though the cat, satisfied with its inspection, decided the camera didn’t taste as good as it looked and politely returned it to the earth.
When Nature Meets Novelty
Wild animals often react with a mix of caution and intrigue when they encounter something unfamiliar, and this leopard was no exception. From plastic water bottles to camera gear, foreign objects in the wild spark curiosity, especially among intelligent predators like leopards.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
In this case, the GoPro became an unexpected toy, drawing the leopard in for a closer look. Such moments highlight how instinct meets exploration in the wild.
With such curiosity, it’s easy to see how littering and leaving human-made items in the wilderness can lead to disasters for wildlife. Certain objects may cause an animal to choke or get trapped, potentially leading to their death.
While on safari, it’s best not to leave your gear unattended in the event that an animal decides to interact with it. Luckily in this spontaneous encounter, everything turned out fine, and the GoPro captured a raw and playful side of wildlife we don’t often get to see.
A Wild Reminder
Ian M’s footage is a funny and thrilling example of how unpredictable wildlife encounters can be. It offers a rare glimpse into the quiet curiosity of a leopard and is a reminder to always keep a watchful eye on your belongings in the wild.
