Watch The Sighting:
While travelling through the bush, most safari-goers hope for a thrilling moment with one of Africa’s iconic predators. In the heart of Kruger National Park, this particular group came across a leopard lying in the grass, but it had locked eyes with a very different kind of prey.
A monitor lizard was resting only a metre away!
Sizing Up A Scaly Situation
The leopard lay still, but its attention was clearly piqued by the sight of the large reptile. Everyone took out their cameras, anticipating the action that was to follow.
The leopard got up slowly and began to circle the lizard, as if unsure how to proceed. Leopards are apex predators known for their strength, agility, and stealth, yet at this moment, the big cat seems cautious.
While not part of their usual diet, leopards have been known to hunt and consume monitor lizards if the opportunity presents itself. Monitor lizards can put up a good fight with their strong limbs, sharp claws, and tough skin, but it seemed as though this leopard was up for the challenge.
Tension Grows
The leopard continued to circle the lizard, who was tracking its opponent with careful precision. Wherever the leopard walked, the lizard would follow.
It oriented its body in the leopard’s direction so it was always facing its threat head-on. The lizard’s powerful tail slithered back and forth with a promise of violence if the leopard grew too near.
Every movement from the leopard was met with watchful resistance as if the lizard was calculating whether to flee, strike, or hold its ground.
The Saving Strike
Finally, in a moment of misjudgment, the leopard crept too close to the lizard. It was met with a sudden lash of the lizard’s powerful tail, a classic defensive maneuver meant as a warning to stay away.
Luckily, the leopard managed to jump out of the way just in time to avoid what could have been a serious injury!
Monitor lizards, especially the Nile monitor, are not to be underestimated. Their muscular tails, sharp claws, and bacterial-rich bites make them formidable when threatened.
A Lesson Learned
In this battle of nerves, the leopard appeared to have been caught in a moment of indecision. Although captivated, it was unsure how, or even whether, to proceed with an attack.
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Inexperienced or simply cautious, the leopard’s hesitation gave the lizard an upper hand. Although this hunt did not end in a kill, it’s a powerful example of how wild animals often opt for assessment over action, especially when faced with unfamiliar defences.
This leopard learned the hard way that monitor lizards are tougher prey than they may seem. In the future, it will have to use a bolder approach if it wants to make a meal out of one of these powerful reptiles.
This sighting teaches us that in the animal kingdom, not every encounter ends in violence. Sometimes, survival comes down to holding your ground and being intimidating enough to give a predator pause.