Leopard lounges in tree
24 Jun
While sitting with the Xakanaxa pride on Mboma Island, there was a radio call from a DDS game drive. A leopard (Panthera pardus) had been sighted and was sleeping in a tree. There was a good chance that the leopard would not be mobile and so we left the lions and headed for the location of the leopard.
It was a young male, whom I did not recognise. The leopard was perfectly camouflaged in the branches of a rain-tree (Lonchocarpus capassa / Philenoptera violacea). He was sleeping but also kept a keen eye on the passing herds of impala (Aepyceros melampus), in the hope that they would walk below him. The impala must have sensed that something was up and constantly gave this tree a wide birth. Eventually the impala moved out of sight and the leopard made itself comfortable, spending the rest of the day lounging in the tree-top shade.
It was late in the afternoon when he started to awake. It was incredible to see how easily and silently he moved down the tree trunk and into the long grass. The leopard was still very much in hunting mode and came close on a couple of occasions to catching an impala. Once his cover had been blown and all the impala in the area knew he was there, he crossed a deep water channel and continued hunting into the night.
- Jason Loughran
WOW, HE IS BEAUTIFUL…….LOVELY PHOTOS…
Well spotted! Perfect timing. Hopefully I’ll spot one myself when we visit Xaxanaka in September. Can’t wait.
The light … impressive photos. Very nice.
Very impressive, especially the fifth one, when he jumps from the tree
Great shots !
Thx