Watch the Sighting:
Kevin van der Linde captured this hilarious sighting while on safari in Kruger National Park in 2016. Upon discovering the leopard, Kevin could tell that something exciting was going on.
The leopard was sitting beside a bush, its tail swishing and muscles taught with focus. With its eye fixed on the bush and alert body language, Kevin knew there must be a small prey item hiding amongst the bush’s branches.
The Circle Game
Finally, some small movement appeared within the bush, and Kevin was able to spot the leopard’s prey: a mongoose! It poked its small head out of hiding and began to move around as if taunting the leopard.
The leopard then began to circle the bush, pursuing the sneaky mongoose. It tried repeatedly to flush its prey out from hiding by pawing and swatting at the branches, but the mongoose managed to stay just out of reach of each swipe.
What it lacked in size, the mongoose made up for in smarts. It used its intelligence, not aggression, to survive, weaving through the thick brambles and using them as a natural barrier from the leopard’s claws.
Frustration Mounts
With every failed attempt, the leopard became more and more impatient. Its movements were seemingly frantic while its tail whipped with agitation.
As a predator that is used to easy victories, the leopard couldn’t stand that it was suddenly outplayed by a nimble opponent. Several more minutes passed with the leopard trying to catch its meal, but to no avail.
Finally, the leopard seemed to realize that the mongoose had no intention of leaving the security of the bush while it lingered nearby. It finally gave up the chase and retreated into the bushes to seek shade, leaving the sneaky mongoose as the victor of the day.
Patience And Precision
Even though leopards are known for taking down larger animals like antelopes or warthogs, they’re often just as skilled at hunting smaller prey items. When stalking animals such as mongooses, hares, or birds, leopards rely heavily on patience, stealth, and their ability to remain completely still for long periods.
They often rely on dense cover to mask their approach, creeping close enough before launching a lightning-fast pounce. Unlike larger prey that may rely on sheer strength, catching small prey requires a careful blend of timing and accuracy.
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A single misstep can send the animal darting into a burrow or thick vegetation, forcing the leopard to reset its strategy, or, as seen in this sighting, walk away empty-pawed.
Wits In The Wild
This rare encounter between the leopard and clever little mongoose is a testament to the endless drama and unpredictability of the natural world. It’s not always brute strength that wins the day, sometimes, it’s patience, strategy, or sheer nerve.
Watching these two animals locked in a quiet battle of persistence and evasion reminds us how finely tuned each creature is to survive in its environment.