PAINTED DOGS & SPOTTY CATS

Submitted by Shaka.

On 19 January 2012, heading out on afternoon drive we saw some wild dog tracks. We followed them for about 30 minutes, knowing that the dogs move very quickly. Vultures at the top of a tree caught my attention and then I saw the dogs lying under an acacia tree. For about 15 minutes the dogs stayed under the tree, giving us time to get a good view and count 18 of them in the pack.

The dogs started to move so I made my way back to the road. Before we got to the road we found 2 leopards on an impala kill. The leopard cub started to take the the impala stomach and we then realised that it was in fact an unborn baby impala. The leopard cub started to feed on the baby impala and the mother leopard started to feed on the adult impala. Not for long! Along came the wild dogs and chased the leopards off, but not before the leopard cub managed to take his baby impala carcass with him up a nearby tree.

The dogs made a feast of the impala they had stolen. The adult leopard tried to chase them off but the dogs turned on her and even tried to climb the tree to get at her. Of course they were no match for the nimble leopard.

Posted: Sandibe by Kate Christie, Date: 20 February 2012