Miguele Vosloo sent this amazing video to Latest Sightings. He was fortunate to witness the incident near Berg-en-dal Camp in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Nothing to see here
Miguele said that after spotting a leopard, he struggled to get a good view of it in long grass. A while later, an impala ram arrived on the scene.
It seems that the impala has some idea of the leopard’s presence, possibly having picked up its scent. However, as it makes its way across the clearing, it is heading straight into danger.
First inkling
The first inkling we have of the leopard’s whereabouts is when its tail suddenly pops up from the long grass, a few metres ahead of the impala.
In the image above, the tail is just visible in the centre-left of the image.
BOO!!!
Consequently, with momentum carrying it forward, there is little the unfortunate impala can do when the leopard suddenly reveals itself directly in its path.
The antelope lowers its horns as if to butt the cat, while simultaneously preparing to leap over it.
Midair interception
No sooner does the antelope launch itself than the leopard does the same. Showing its phenomenal reflexes and agility, the predator intercepts the flying impala in midair, hooking its claws into its flank.
Cats are possessed of some of the fastest reflexes in the mammal kingdom, capable of reacting in 20-70 milliseconds.
Airborne acrobatics
With its claws embedded in the impala, the leopard has no choice but to be carried by the heavier antelope’s momentum. Consequently, its lithe body contorts as it flies through the air.
Scenes like these beautifully illustrate the immense strength, mobility and determination of these spotted cats. Without these attributes, the leopard would likely go hungry.
Deadly grip
As the pair returns to Earth, we can see that the leopard has a firm grip on its prey. In addition to gripping it with its inch-long claws, it has clamped its jaws over the impala’s muzzle.
Ideally, the leopard wants to close off the impala’s windpipe to cause asphyxiation. Regardless, in the throes of their battle, any hold will do for now.
However, as the pair continue to wrestle, we can see that the leopard is attempting to get at the impala’s throat.
While it would be possible to asphyxiate its prey with a muzzle grip, a throat grip reduces the chances of the impala making a distress call. The leopard wants to avoid noise as it may attract scavengers.
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Bronco ride
As powerful as the leopard is, the impala ram is still full of fight.
As it springs about, it is all the leopard can do to hang on until the ram begins to tire. This sees the leopard being dragged beneath its struggling prey.
At this, there is a risk of the impala injuring the leopard with a kick to the belly. However, the skilled hunter manages to avoid its sharp hooves.
It does so by placing itself between the impala’s front legs and pressing its hind paws up against its belly.
As Miguele’s video concludes, the impala has run out of steam, with the leopard still hanging on beneath it. Although we don’t see it fall, Miguele tells us that the hunt was ultimately successful.
Watching the leopard’s absolute determination, it is no wonder they are often referred to as the prince of cats.
