Leopard cubs stay with their mothers for up to two years. During that time, they learn many skills by playing together, as depicted in this footage.
Lezy Pretorius filmed this wonderful footage. She filmed it at Nkhoro Bush Lodge, situated in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.
Watch the video here:
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Leopard in the long grass
As Lezy’s video begins, we see a female leopard walking through tall grass.
By and large, leopards are solitary creatures, only getting together for mating or when they have cubs.
Surprise!!!
Suddenly, a spotted blur springs into view. We soon realise that it is the female’s cub, eager to play.
Leopards give birth to up to 4 cubs, which they raise single-handedly. This cub appears to be about a year old.
The world is a playground
When Mum doesn’t take the bait, the little one rushes ahead to a small tree. Seeing the world as its playground, the cub springs into the lower branches.
As she catches up, Mum looks up at her boisterous youngster as if wondering whether to join him or move on.
In turn, the cub looks down on her, taunting her into a game of “King of the castle”.
Challenge accepted
Consequently, the mother leopard decides she’s up for some fun. In one elegant spring, she leaps into the tree.
Then, having secured her footing, she leaps directly onto her cub. With nowhere to go but down, he drops from the tree.
Not to be outdone
Having been dislodged from his throne, the cub tries to climb up behind his mom. However, there is nowhere for him to go.
Meanwhile, Mom moves further along the branch, causing it to bend under her weight.
Seeing gravity working in his favour, the cub hatches a new plan.
Rising to the challenge
Believing that the branch is within reach, the cub attempts to grab the branch, hoping to pull it out from under its mother.
Although he manages to get hold of the branch, it does little to topple his Mom from her perch.
However, when he lifts his hind legs, the branch begins to dip. Consequently, Mom starts to worry that her reign is about to end.
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Handy offramp
Using their combined weight, the mother leopard walks to the end of the branch, causing it to dip to the ground.
Consequently, a short jump brings her back to earth, where her eager cub awaits.
As the mother leopard returned to the ground, the cub took off after her, eager to avenge his recent loss. Meanwhile, if Mom had hoped to get a moment’s peace after indulging his playfulness, those hopes were dashed when he leapt on her back.
Although it looks like fun, these interactions are vital to a cub’s development. In play, they learn much of what they will need to survive in a hostile world.