Leopards at play

With winter in the air we left the comfort of the fireplace and headed out into the crisp morning. The mission this morning? Leopard! We knew of a female, with a young cub, who had been seen with an impala kill on the eastern boundary. There was a good chance they would still be in the area as there was much meat left on the carcass. When we arrived they were both lying out in the early morning sun but soon moved to the carcass to feed. After covering the carcass with soil and grass to conceal its scent, the mother and daughter engaged in what can only be discribed as an act of joy. The two were playfully chasing each other with the cub often jumping up onto her mother. This lasted for sometime before the two, now exhausted, leopard moved off into the thicket. It really was awesome to see the softer side of these magnificent predators.

Posted: Ngala by Ray Hume, Date: 12 June 2008