While visiting safaris and spotting incredible animals makes for an exciting trip, it’s important to remember that the animals themselves might not always enjoy it quite as much.
Many of them have grown accustomed to vehicles passing them by, but there are others, like this leopard which Laetitia Visser caught on camera, that actively dislike the proximity of humans.
Spotted in the Kruger National Park, this leopard made its dissatisfaction known quickly, causing Laetitia to hurry along rather than risk annoying it even further.
Hidden In The Long Grass
The leopard had managed to conceal itself very effectively on the side of the road, taking advantage of the patches of long grass. Known for their stealth, this leopard proved how hard they can be to spot, even in the light of day.
Without being able to rely on the support of a pride or herd, leopards have to rely on their ability to remain unseen to make sure they can get close enough to hunt their prey.
Moving without making a sound, or lying in wait without revealing themselves, are essential hunting tactics. With care, leopards can make sure they always have the opportunity to target their prey’s weaker points and get a quick kill without expending too much energy.
Stealthy Big Cats
It’s easy to imagine how a leopard might go about this stealthy lifestyle, but to see it in action is another thing altogether, as the camera had to work to pick it out of the long grass, and even then it wasn’t clear until Laetitia zoomed in on the cat.
Despite its size, the leopard was able to almost completely conceal itself in the grass, and any unsuspecting antelope or prey that was using the road for ease of travel would get a nasty surprise if it was walking too close to the edge.
Leopard’s can leap several meters when it’s time to attack, and would be able to cover the distance between its hiding place and the road in only moments. Unless it was tipped off by something else, the prey would have to struggle to survive.
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Preserving Privacy
Of course it’s also entirely possible that this leopard had not chosen this spot because of the favorable hunting opportunities it offered. Leopard’s are solitary animals and solitude may well have been what this big cat sought.
Crouched down low, it was less than pleased at the interruption to its agenda when the vehicle pulled up, and disturbed its peace. Not one to waste time deliberating, this leopard immediately made as if to leap at the vehicle itself.
The move clearly shocked Laetitia as the camera jerked rapidly back into the car before cutting out. There aren’t many people that would willingly stay in the path of an angry big cat, so this was likely the right choice.
It’s important to remember that these are still wild animals that might react unpredictably to the presence of humans, especially when they are surprised, or feel like their personal space is at risk. Always maintain a safe distance, and don’t antagonize any of the animals.
