Leopards are among the most adaptable of cats when it comes to habitats. However, when rain fell in this female’s arid home, she seemed a bit put out.
Anchia Harmse submitted this amusing footage to Latest Sightings. She filmed it while visiting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Reserve, which straddles the South Africa-Botswana border.
Leopard in the desert
As we join Anchia’s sighting, we see a young female leopard walking across an ancient riverbed within the Kgalagadi Reserve. The reserve’s habitat is arid, with annual rainfall ranging between 120 and 350 mm.
As can be seen, a flush of green covers the ground, brought on by good seasonal rains. Some water is still visible, a boon for the area’s fauna and flora.
About turn
Subsequently, the leopard walks up to the water. She does an about-turn, however, when she wets her paws.
It seems that while this desert dweller needs water to survive, she has not become accustomed to feeling it on her immaculate coat.
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Massive Kgalagadi territories
Subsequently, we see the leopard walking parallel to the shallow pools of water. Presumably, she is patrolling her territory, something she must do constantly to prevent intruders from moving in.
In the Kgalagadi, where both leopard and prey numbers are relatively low, leopards hold the largest territories of their species. Female territories average 1,258.5 km², while male territories are a massive 2,182 km²
Blocked by an innocuous obstacle
With so much ground to cover, she must find a way across this seemingly innocuous obstacle.
However, each time she gets her paws wet, she turns and sets off to find a dry route.
Stymied time and time again, she scans the riverbed looking for a dry place to cross.
However, at a glance, none seem to be available.
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Peculiar gait
Consequently, she accepts that if she is to cross the riverbed, she’ll have to endure getting her paws wet. Even so, her perked-up ears suggest she’s baffled by the prospect.
Approaching the water, she nimbly leaps over the first big puddle. However, with a considerable way still to go, even her 6-metre leap won’t get her all the way.
As a result, she decides the next best thing is to tiptoe through the water. As such, she moves forward with a peculiar high-stepping gait.
Making it look all the more awkward, she zigzags as she looks for dry patches along the way. As she reaches the far side, she turns back with a disdainful look, but at least she is on dry land again.
Broad habitat tolerance
Found across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia, leopards have the greatest habitat tolerance of any cat. They thrive in forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains. You can even find them on the outskirts of major cities.
