WILD CAT CAMOUFLAGE

On the evening game drive we picked up the sound of alarm calls from baboons. They were bobbing their heads, shaking branches and jumping showing threat displays. From this I could tell a big cat must be around nearby. I drove around the area and stopped, looked and listened and I heard a low deep sound and as we drove near where we heard this sound we found a lioness lying down on the anthill. We stopped and watched this beautiful cat, she then started roaring louder and walking on the road and as it approached the dense vegetation a wild cat rushed through the dense vegetation and laid flat on the open area. The lioness heard the movement but did not see it, and this lioness started looking around and could not see it, however the cat was not far from the lioness, it was lying flat on the ground facing the lioness about 60m away. She gave up and carried on walking, this is another way of how these small creatures survive from the enemies by means of camouflage.

Posted: Botswana Expeditions by Seilaneng Letsapa, Date: 6 June 2007