The memorable sighting was filmed by Foxys on Safari in the Kruger National Park.
Leopard stalks towards intended prey
The leopard stalked through the grass, barely visible due to its stunning camouflage. It moved with stealth and determination, sinking its body low to the ground as it moved along.
It was clear that the leopard was stalking something. Its focus was fixed forwards and it was a predator on a mission.
Unlike lions which live and hunt in prides or wild dogs which hunt in coordinated packs, leopards are solitary predators.
A leopard relies on stealth, patience, and surprise to catch prey rather than strength in numbers.
This one stalked quietly, aiming to get as close as possible to its intended prey, before launching a sudden ambush.
Warthog becomes aware of leopard’s presence
It soon became evident that the leopard had its sights set on a large warthog, which was one of three warthogs grazing nearby.
The warthog had been grazing quite happily until it sensed the leopard nearby.
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The warthog might have been smaller than the leopard but it had all its wits about it. It lifted its head, and sensing the leopard, began to run away, tail lifted high in the air.
The leopard, which had hoped to catch the warthog by surprise, had no such luck.
While there was something of a chase, the leopard eventually slowed down. It picked up speed every now and then, but mostly gave a half-hearted effort. It possibly knew that it stood no chance of catching the warthog now.
The running warthog was joined by two other warthogs. All three ran off… all three, with their tails in the air.
The panicked warthogs turned momentarily to face their pursuer as they trotted off, before continuing to run.
They disappeared in the distance as they took refuge in the thick of the bushveld, out of reach of the leopard.
Leopard slows down, acknowledging defeat
This had been a close call for the warthog family. The targeted warthog’s early detection of the leopard and prompt response had successfully warded off the attack.
The leopard couldn’t use ‘surprise’ as a weapon and its planned attack unraveled from the moment the warthog sensed its presence.
Warthogs have very sharp senses, and early detection is often what saves them from leopards. While they usually feed with their heads down, they lift them frequently to scan the surroundings, using keen eyesight, smell, and hearing to pick up signs of danger.
Leopards rely heavily on stealth and the element of surprise. If the warthog detects them too soon, they are forced to abandon the hunt because they cannot outrun a fully alerted warthog over open ground.
The leopard now ran at a slow pace akin to a jog. The apex predator had not succeeded in its attempts at a hunt. For now it would need to regain its strength and spot new potential prey, in which instance the whole process of stalk-ambush-chase would begin again.