When a desperate genet tries to outwit a young leopard, it learns that treetops aren’t always safe. Will a death-defying leap be enough to change its fate?
Watch the Sighting:
Private safari guide Robert Bowren was on a game drive in Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana when he found himself in the heart of a dramatic scene. He and his guests had stumbled upon a leopardess with her two young ones.
Robert and his guests tracked the group for some time until he noticed a shift in their energy. The playful antics of the leopard family took an unexpected turn when something in a dead leadwood tree caught their attention.
The Unexpected Guest in the Tree
The group was puzzled — they couldn’t figure out what had gotten the attention of the leopard family. Finally, the mystery was revealed when the young male leopard began to stalk towards the dead tree and a small genet, the apparent target of the leopards, became spooked and made a mad dash for safety.
In a move of desperation, the genet quickly climbed the tree to the very top of the highest branch, hoping the leopard wouldn’t be bold enough to give chase. It quickly learned that this was not the case, as the leopard ascended the tree with the confidence of a seasoned climber.
A Leap of Faith
As the leopard slowly made its way up the tree, Robert and his group waited in anticipation to see what the genet’s next move would be. The audience held their breath as the leopard approached the precariously thin branches, closing in on the terrified genet.
With nowhere left to go, the genet made a heart-stopping decision to launch itself off of the branch, falling meters to the ground.
Amazingly, the genet landed perfectly and unharmed, then proceeded to bolt away as fast as possible into a nearby hole to avoid the female sub-adult leopard on the ground. The genet miraculously made it out of the situation alive after falling almost 10 meters to the ground and dodging not one, but three leopards!
A Sighting to Remember
While both genets and leopards are fantastic tree climbers, the smaller body size of the genet typically allows them to act in a more nimbly. In this situation, the genet must have been caught off guard by the bravery of the leopard, given how thin the tree branches were.
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With both animals being primarily nocturnal, Robert reflected on the rarity of the sighting “It was honestly a sighting I will remember for a long time. I really did not think the leopard would climb almost 10 metres just for a genet”.
Preserving the Future of Genets
Genets are nocturnal predators that appear cat-like but are not technically cats. They are opportunistic hunters who often rely on small vertebrates and insects as their main food source.
In the wild, there are 14 different species of genet, but they face many threats from humans. Gentes are losing habitat due to deforestation and conversion of land to agriculture in addition to being hunted for bushmeat, fur, and as pests.
Measures such as training in sustainable agriculture techniques and programs to reduce landscape pressures in local communities can help protect genets and help them thrive in the future.