The impala suspected nothing as it peacefully enjoyed grazing in the shade of the tree.
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However, the peaceful moment was jarringly disturbed when the leopard, which had remained cunningly hidden, emerged like lightening. Phil captured the moment in a video for Caters News.
Impala grazes alongside baboon troop
As one of the most common of Africa’s antelopes, it is not unusual to see impala when on a game drive. This impala ram was foraging nearby a tall tree.
Male impalas horns can grow to the height of their body! This, and they can leap up to 10 metres in length and 3 metres in height. They are also incredibly agile.
These qualities equip them for defense in the face of danger.
This impala did not show any signs of distress or alarm as it milled around in the peaceful bushveld setting.
Impala will emit loud snorts, giving alarm calls in the presence of danger. They might flick their tails to alert others to potential threats.
For this one, however, it was business as usual.
It did not seem to notice that the behaviour of nearby baboons suggested something wasn’t right.
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Leopard emerges from out of the blue
However, it was anything but business as usual. A leopard which had stalked up to the tree next to the impala, suddenly pounced from the trees branches.
It had been hiding there, undetected.
Oftentimes a predator will stalk their prey, hiding in the long grass or behind bushes, for instance, and then emerge with great speed, before a chase ensues.
However, other times, predators like leopards, which have the ability to climb trees, will present a surprise ambush; giving the impala no chance to react in defense, and run or leap or kick or use its horns.
This was one such time, when the impala, completely caught by surprise, had no such chance to defend itself.
Leopard brings impala to the ground
Darting out of the tree, the leopard pulled the impala to the ground with great force. The impala and leopard left dust and a loud noise as they crashed to the ground; the impala in the leopard’s grip.
The baboons started to scream as the leopard rolled across the bushveld floor holding onto the impala, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. “The noise from the baboons was one of a craze and then there was silence. We watched as a group. Stunned. And in silence too. “
The baboons were sent into an absolute flurry as the leopard stilled the impala with great energy and force. The troop was alive with chaotic energy and troop members were quite vocal about what was happening in their midst.
“The leopard then started to suffocate the impala by latching its jaws over its mouth. It took approximately 30 more minutes for it to take its last breath. It’s legs gave one more attempt at life before it fell still,” said Phil.
“What we had witnessed our guide advised was something which he only saw every five years. And I had it on video!”