Watch the sighting here:
A female leopard proved willing to rise to great heights to secure a meal. In this startling video, the leopard precariously negotiates its way down a tree, clutching an immature tawny eagle clamped in its jaws.
Ally Bradfield submitted the footage and report to Latest Sightings. She and her husband witnessed the incident on the S41 near Satara.
Zoomed in
Ally recounts noticing ‘a large shape moving in the nest at the top of the tree.’ Additionally, an eagle repeatedly dive-bombed it.
Raising their binoculars, they were surprised to see a leopard raiding a large nest, emerging with an eagle in its mouth. Later, they would determine it was a juvenile tawny eagle; obviously unable to fly.
Zoomed out
Already an unusual sighting, the fact that it began on the spindliest of branches atop a knobthorn tree makes it all the more unusual.
How the leopard even knew the eagle was there will remain a mystery.
Precarious
Zooming back in to the video, it is a wonder that the leopard’s weight is supported by the spindly branches.
Additionally, the branches offer little purchase, so the leopard’s descent is both slow and delicate.
Still alive?
As the leopard descends through the tangled branches, it appears that the young eagle is still alive. We see its beak and wings move but it is truly helpless; trapped in the leopard’s jaws.
Eventually, the eagle’s wings hang loose, suggesting that it may have finally succumbed.
A long way down
Even so, the leopard still has a long way to go before reaching the ground. Leopards, though, are accomplished climbers and this one takes its time.
We can only assume it didn’t want to drop its prey, lest another scavenger steal it.
It’s fascinating to see how she pauses at intervals to plot her next move. If you’ve ever seen a knobthorn up close, you’ll know that they have wicked recurved thorns.
Nearly there
Eventually, she makes her way down to the main branches, and her descent becomes easier. Still, she holds her prey firmly, no doubt looking forward to the moment she can enjoy her meal.
Ever-cautious
As she nears the base of the tree, she manoeuvres for her final leap back to terra firma.
She pauses for a while, possibly scanning the area for any threats. It would be a great shame to lose her prize after such effort.
Touchdown!
Still several metres above the ground, she launches herself from the tree.
As it turns out, her final trick of the encounter would be a disappearing act.
In closing, Bradfield recalls, “”The grass was too long for us to monitor the leopard after it had left the tree, but I was guessing he would be eating his well-deserved catch for a while.”
Why are leopards so comfortable in trees.
Compared to most other big cats, leopards are incredible tree-climbers. Famously storing their kills in trees to keep them from scavengers, they also use trees for safety, resting and lookouts.
Physical attributes that help them climb so well include flexible paws with sharp, retractable claws, a lightweight body and muscular limbs.
These, along with a low centre of gravity, a flexible spine and a long, counter-balancing tail enable leopards to incorporate trees into their lives like no other predator.
And we’re so glad they can. Just ask anyone who has ever seen a lazy leopard draped on a limb without a care in the world.