While chasing pigeons, a wild dog fails to notice a leopard lying in wait and is attacked unexpectedly.
The moment a predator meets its end at the jaws of another predator was captured by Bertie van Greunen, a wildlife enthusiast, along with his wife Ria in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, Southern Africa, as reported by Latest Sightings on August 31.
“On our last day at Polentswa Camp, we were awakened by the calls of a cheetah and decided to drive around for a tour. We spotted the cheetah on a hillside but couldn’t get a clear view. After 20 minutes, we decided to head to a waterhole where two wild dogs were interestingly present,” Greunen recounted.
Upon reaching the waterhole, Greunen and his wife simultaneously spotted a female leopard named Olebeli. She was sitting and watching a herd of antelope that had just left the water. The waterhole was also bustling with pigeons coming to drink, while the pair of wild dogs began to stalk them.
As the flock of pigeons prepared to land, the wild dogs were ready to pounce, hoping to secure breakfast. However, they did not anticipate that another predator was lying in wait—Olebeli. While one wild dog made an effort to catch a pigeon, Olebeli concealed herself in the grass. Finally, just as the wild dog leaped high, Olebeli sprang out to attack with precision.
Leopard Olebeli grabs the prey’s neck and walks away.
“The remaining wild dog jumped up and down, making alarm calls, but could do nothing. Olebeli grabbed the prey’s neck and walked away. We saw the leopard cross the road as expected, then head towards the bushes, looking back at us one last time while still holding onto her catch. That was the end for the wild dog,” Greunen said.
“That afternoon, we returned to the waterhole and saw the wild dog’s friend still searching for it. This moved both my wife and me deeply. This was certainly an experience my wife and I will never forget,” Greunen shared.
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large cat species found in sub-Saharan Africa, Northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, and China. Their prey includes antelope, deer, wild boar, rabbits, fish, birds, and various other creatures. Leopards are skilled climbers and can leap up to 3 meters high.
