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Watching predators hunt can be a special experience, and safari goers love to see these animals at work. Michael Bradbury and his group were fortunate enough to see a leopard hunting incredibly.
Michael caught this footage in the Kruger National Park, on the H7 near Orpen Gate, and sent it in to Latest Sightings. This leopard shows the true power of big cats and how deadly they can be.
Calm And Cool
The leopard doesn’t appear to feel any pressure on this hunt. Unlike other predators fighting prolonged battles, it doesn’t come across as rushed or desperate.
This is a dangerous predator that needs food to ensure its own survival, and years of training and experience have made it good at getting what it needs. Tight focus controlled its movements as it emerged from its hiding place in the bush, and it moved quickly to capitalize on the opportunity it had detected.
From one hiding place, the leopard moved to what appeared to be another, crouching down in the shadow of a fallen tree until the unfortunate meal came close enough for it to pounce.
Quick and Clean
The prey didn’t even have a second to react. Like other big cats, leopards prefer to avoid a drawn-out confrontation, which saps energy and risks attracting rival predators that might steal the kill.
This leopard went for the neck, to ensure a quick kill that was over with minimum fuss, and gave no opportunity for the prey to fight back or escape.
The entire moment was over in a handful of seconds, the prey’s neck broken, showing how the natural world has shaped these predators into terrifyingly efficient hunting machines.
The Money Shot
This leopard must have known it was on camera because after killing its prey, it dragged it out of the bush and into full view of Michael and his group, allowing Michael to capture an amazing shot.
But Michael and his tour group weren’t the only ones watching. The prey’s demise was also witnessed by the rest of its herd, which observed the dangerous leopard at a safe distance.
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That’ll Keep Until Later
Once the leopard had secured its meal, it had to take steps to ensure that it would have the opportunity to eat it too. Remaining out in the open was risky, as other pack predators would have the advantage of numbers if they came snooping around.
It’s much safer for leopards to store their kills in the high branches of trees where other predators can’t reach them as easily. This means leopards can enjoy their kills safely and over a longer period, getting the most out of the energy they’ve spent on the hunt.
The rest of the antelope’s herd look on anxiously as the leopard drags their friend away, but there’s nothing they can do now. Michael and his group were treated to a really special sighting, showing how important it is to take every opportunity to spot animals like these, and being patient to see what happens when one’s in view.