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Home Animals Watch Baboons Fight Back After Leopard Ambush

Watch Baboons Fight Back After Leopard Ambush

The impassioned response of a troop of baboons following a leopard kill at Singita Lebombo Lodge stirred experienced safari ranger Solomon Ndlovu to reach out to Latest Sightings.

Heather Djunga
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Spotting a leopard is a rare sighting, however Solomon and his tour group, were privileged to see not only a leopard, but also the lithesome big cat’s strategic ambush of a troop of baboons, and the baboons’ heartfelt response to losing one of their own.

Recounting the moving spectator experience, Solomon said that after seeing the leopard, he had switched the vehicle off and he and the viewers had sat to wait. “After spending some time we heard a noise in the distance. Something was making its way towards us. I quickly realized that it was baboons, and the leopard did too, almost immediately transitioning into stealth, and setting up an ambush!”

An ambush is set

The baboons arrived playfully skipping along as they went about with their business, unaware of the leopard in their midst.

One by one the lively animals crossed the road just in front of where the leopard lay waiting. Leopards have been called the ‘phantoms of the forest’. This is because they are masters of stealth. Their silent, calculated movements enable them to approach prey unnoticed, establishing them as highly-skilled hunters.

This troop of baboons didn’t suspect a thing.

The leopard carefully positioned itself just behind the dam wall and didn’t strike immediately. It seemed he waited for a few baboons to pass by, before selecting his target.

Pandemonium breaks loose

The stealth predator emerged quite unexpectedly and moved with the power and speed of a bullet. As powerful hunters, leopards are built for the hunt. Their sleek, muscular and fast forms, together with their sharp claws and teeth make them formidable hunting machines.

While the baboons’ reaction was instantaneous, it wasn’t enough to outrun and outsmart the cunning predator. Baboons and leopard disappeared out of view, and a terrible commotion could be heard from behind a bush just at the side of the sand road, where Solomon had parked the vehicle.

The viewers weren’t left wondering about the outcome of the deadly tussle. After disappearing in a nearby bush for a short while, the leopard soon emerged carrying the lifeless body of one of the baboons.

The baboons were quite vocal about the death of their comrade. Some barked a deep, resonant bark and others screeched. The leopard strutted quite confidently down the sand road carrying its kill.

One for all and all for one

However, the baboons weren’t about to take the leopard’s victory lying down, and followed the leopard to where it went just off the road, to enjoy the spoils of its morning’s hunt.

One baboon followed the next in pursuit of the leopard. The baboon which had fallen was one of them, and they were determined to deal with the matter as a troop – displaying high intelligence and deep devotion in the way they approached the matter.

The leopard was about to settle in for its feast when the baboons appeared in numbers a few metres away. Baboon troops are on average 50 members large, and this was a fairly large troop.

Noticing the baboons, the leopard looked up from its prey. The entire troop had gathered solemnly as a warning to the leopard. Baboons aren’t completely defenseless against leopards. Their canine teeth are in fact larger than that of a leopard’s.

The predator, not wanting to be disturbed or intimidated, charged straight into the troop of baboons, and the vehement animals disappeared for a moment behind a nearby thornbush enclave.

The screeches of the baboons could be heard as they unleashed their fury upon the leopard.

The troop gave its best in dealing with the leopard, and the leopard soon re-emerged from behind the bushers; the baboons chasing behind making loud, intimidating noises.

The leopard knew there was no way it was getting out of the situation with its meal, and seeing a gap in the baboons’ attack, it fled.

A somber reminder of the fragility of life in the bushveld

The baboons watched as the leopard fled, standing in numbers near to where the lifeless body of their troop mate could be seen in the grass.

As natural enemies, heated conflicts between leopards and baboons are nothing unusual. These skirmishes can even take place within trees, with agile leopards also having the ability to climb trees.

These conflicts usually arise due to competition for resources and territorial disputes, and competition for resources; and, as in this instance, due to predator activity. As they did in this scenario, baboons retaliate by forming a united front with the hope of overwhelming their opponent.

The baboons watched as the leopard fled, standing in numbers near to where the lifeless body of their troop mate could be seen in the grass.

While the leopard would with no doubt return later to enjoy the spoils of its kill, the baboons had at least sought justice for their fallen friend and left a clear message to the viewers: to hurt one, is to hurt all.


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