A male leopard discovers a lion’s den after a bush and rushes in to catch a cub, dragging its prey up a tree.
The rare lion hunt by a leopard in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, was captured on camera by visitor Scott Hyman, as reported by Latest Sightings on November 9. He took photos and videos from a distance of 10 to 15 meters.
“During the tour, I encountered an adult male leopard and followed it for over an hour until it suddenly stopped. The animal abruptly dashed into a dense thicket. After a few seconds, it emerged with a small lion cub in its mouth,” Hyman recounted.
The leopard drags its prey up a tree near a bend.
The leopard weighed over 70 kg and was fully grown, while the lion cub was only about three weeks old. The predator ran along the path while the lion cub struggled. It then dragged its prey up a tree near a bend.
“At first, I was shocked by what I witnessed. But I quickly accepted that this is a part of nature,” Hyman shared.
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is found in Africa and Asia. They are opportunistic predators, feeding on various animal species and often hunting on the ground or in trees. Leopards are excellent climbers. During the day, they spend most of their time resting under rocks or in shaded areas among branches. At night, they typically hunt instead of sleeping.
