This tense yet entertaining footage comes from South Africa’s Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.
What’s the fuss?
As the video begins, the average viewer might wonder what they are looking at. We look up into the tree canopy above.
Can you spot the predator hidden in plain sight?
Baboon on duty
Before we find out, the camera pans to the right, revealing a lone baboon perched high in the branches. This baboon is on sentry duty, on the lookout for threats to its troop.
As we watch, the baboon grows agitated and confirms it with an alarm bark. There’s an intruder about!
Intruder’s identity confirmed
Subsequently, the camera pans to the left, revealing the intruder’s identity. It is a young female leopard, daughter of the well-known Nkoveni Female, that frequents the Londolozi area.
As much as the baboon is keeping a close eye on the leopard, so too is the leopard watching her nemesis.
Advance and retreat
Loyal to its troop, the baboon then advances towards where the cub is situated. While wary of leopards, baboons will not hesitate to intimidate them if they can.
In this case, it appears to have the desired effect. Consequently, we see the frightened youngster retreating to a safer position.
Defiant
However, perhaps out of curiosity, the cub doesn’t retreat far. Subsequently, we see that she has found a new perch from which to keep an eye on the baboon.
As the baboon’s barks continue to ring across the bushveld, the young leopard snarls in defiance. Showing remarkable tenacity, she has decided to face her foe.
Meanwhile, the baboon is equally determined not to back down, resulting in a short stalemate.
Tables turned
To our surprise, the leopard then seizes the initiative. Showing remarkable confidence, she advances towards the baboon’s position.
On seeing the advancing predator, it is now the baboon’s chance to retreat.
Amusingly, as was the case with the leopard, the baboon also turns to face its adversary. Having retreated a safe distance, it resumes its barking.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Sudden departure
Suddenly, the leopard decides to retreat and is seen descending from the tree canopy. But what has caused this sudden change of heart?
In the next scene, we quickly realise why the cub left the safety of the trees. Her mother has returned and presumably called her beloved cub to her side.
As the video draws to an end, we see the heartwarming sight of the mother leopard, Nkoveni, grooming her young charge.
Nearing independence
During the video, we hear the ranger telling his guest that the cub is about 15 months old. At this age, she is nearing the age when she will have to leave her mother.
Leopard cubs are helpless at birth and entirely dependent on their mothers for food and protection. At two months of age, they start learning how to hunt by observing their mothers.
As they grow, they tackle progressively larger prey, and if all goes well, they are competent hunters by the age of 18 months, at which time they begin the process of becoming independent.