Matimba Marimane sent this footage to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on a game drive in South Africa’s Thornybush Private Game Reserve.
Mom returns
We join the action as a female leopard arrives at the base of a tree. As she does, we can tell from her snarling and attention focused to the left of the frame, that she is not happy.
Having issued her warning to the as-yet-unseen cause of her discontent, she looks up the tree. Consequently, we’re left wondering why she is upset and what is of interest up the tree.
Mysteries solved
Moments later, the answers to our questions are answered, when suddenly, she leaps up the tree trunk. As she does, we see a spotted hyena walk into the scene.
Then, as she ascends the tree, we see her join her sub-adult offspring. Leopards often climb trees to escape potential danger.
Now safe in their lofty lookout, the pair look down on the hyena with something approaching disdain. Typical cats!
Stashed treasure
Subsequently, we discover why the younger leopard was up the tree in the first place. As it happens, they had a kill stashed in the branches.
And, it seems, Mum has returned to feed, as we see her manoeuvring to retrieve her prey. But what is it that she’s after?
Lizard for lunch
As she turns in the treetop, we finally see what it is. They have caught a monitor lizard.
Monitors are the largest lizards found on the African continent, and leopards (along with martial eagles) are their main predators.
Lost lunch
As she looks for a comfortable spot to enjoy her meal, she makes a silly mistake by dropping the lizard. As gravity takes over, all she and her cub can do is look on as it falls to the ground below.
This is exactly the moment that the hyena has been waiting for. In a flash, the scavenger scampers over to steal the carcass.
Something is off here
However, to our surprise, the hyena doesn’t immediately pick up its bounty from above. Instead, it spends some time sniffing at it.
Considering that hyenas are known to eat putrefied meat, its apparent reluctance in this case is unusual. Possible reasons for this are that monitors are venomous, and their flesh contains a lot of bacteria.
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I don’t want it. But it’s mine
Nevertheless, when a second hyena arrives on the scene, the first appears unwilling to share. This may be an issue of hierarchy, with the second animal reluctant to try its luck with a senior member of the clan.
After warning off the newcomer, the hyena walks off a short distance, but still seems reluctant to tuck in.
Meanwhile, up above
While all this is happening at ground level, the two leopards remain in the tree’s upper branches. Presumably, they’ve decided that it’s not worth the risk of trying to win back the lizard.
As the footage comes to an end, the mother and cub watch the hyenas below. Perhaps they’re hoping the hyena will drop the lizard, leaving them to safely retrieve it later.