Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: William Walker on December 03, 2013, 01:47:24 pm

Title: Sabi Sands Leopard - Round Two
Post by: William Walker on December 03, 2013, 01:47:24 pm
Two days later, we were on a drive and were "called in" on two-way radio to this sighting. This particular female had had her previous kill taken by hyena and was hungry.
As we arrived, she started moving.

These pictures were taken from a moving vehicle so make a few allowances for that please...
Title: Re: Sabi Sands Leopard - Round Two
Post by: William Walker on December 03, 2013, 01:51:50 pm
She wandered around with no apparent purpose, sniffing here and there, scent-marking a tree, and so on.

We could see some impala in the distance and she was moving in their general direction...
Title: Re: Sabi Sands Leopard - Round Two
Post by: William Walker on December 03, 2013, 02:07:05 pm
She kept making her way towards the impala and, when she saw them, she stopped and stood like this for nearly ten minutes.
Title: Re: Sabi Sands Leopard - Round Two
Post by: William Walker on December 03, 2013, 02:09:41 pm
She finally made her move, and by the time our vehicle was started and we caught up to her, she had already made the kill...
Title: Re: Sabi Sands Leopard - Round Two
Post by: William Walker on December 03, 2013, 02:15:45 pm
She moved off and found a spot to settle down with her meal. It was amazing to see the impala mother following the leopard frantically snorting and "barking".

She finally realised that the situation was hopeless and moved off. Our guide told us that the mothers often spend up to two days in the vicinity and are sometimes also taken by the leopard.
Title: Re: Sabi Sands Leopard - Round Two
Post by: francois on December 04, 2013, 06:46:10 am
This is a very good set, William. I enjoy those ones as much as the first photo.
Thanks for sharing.