Seeing predators, animals that have evolved over countless years, fulfill their role can be incredibly impressive. This leopard performed admirably when it came to its hunt.
Jaco Van Staden spotted the big cat on the H1-5 road at the Kruger National Park as it closed in carefully on its prey, and sent the footage of the event in to Latest Sightings.
An Expert Hunter
The leopard had already locked on to its future meal at the very beginning of Jaco’s footage. Crouched in the shadow of a small cliff, this big cat was showing off its hunting prowess as it crept closer and closer to its prey.
Ignorant of the danger it was in and on low alert, the impala was with its fellows, languidly grazing on the small spurts of grass that had managed to grow in the churned mud.
Like almost all ambush predators, leopards are more than capable of creeping as close as possible to their prey before leaping out and attacking before their unfortunate target has much of a chance to flee.
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A Lonely Big Cat
Even grouped predators like lions, hyenas and wild dogs which live in large social structures are capable of hunting or scavenging alone when the situation demands it, but leopards take this a step further.
Their solitary lifestyles and hunting practices make stealthy approaches more of a necessity than a boon. The slightest misstep or poor positioning could alert the impala to its presence, and if it missed the best moment to attack it might have to go hungry.
There would be no allied leopard flanking the prey, or waiting nearby to lend its assistance bringing the animal down. This leopard only had itself to trust in, and it would have to bag its prey and get it somewhere safe before the sounds of a scuffle attracted anything that might steal it.
Springing The Trap
To give itself the greatest chance of success the leopard had to pick the opportune moment to burst from its hiding place and bring down the impala. The prey was unaware, the leopard was ready, the time was now.
Bounding over the uneven ground the leopard attacked suddenly and without warning. It only had to sprint a few meters before it would be close enough to leap at the impala and bring it down, those were good odds.
The unlucky impala quickly realized it was the leopard’s target and it tried to flee, but the big cat was already too close. It made it to the top of the hill nearby before the leopard’s jaws closed around its throat.
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Quick And Easy
With the leopard’s teeth and claws lodged in its neck the impala fell, the weight of the big cat dragging it back down the hill it’d used in its attempt to escape.
It would only be a short struggle with a foregone conclusion. The impala couldn’t escape now, all the leopard had to do was finish it off before dragging it into the high branches of a nearby tree.
In the end it had been a textbook hunt, with the big cat springing a perfect ambush, and securing itself a good few meals. Minimal fuss for maximum reward.