In the right corner, measuring 4 1/2 ft long and weighing in at 150 pounds we have Spotty the Leopard.
In the middle, measuring 3 ft long and weighing in at 130 pounds we have Swala "dead weight" the Impala
It was an epic battle that pitted the power house of an ancient dynasty against a smaller, quicker, more agile opponent. Neither could make much headway with the croc keeping his feet well planted while the leopard struggled valiantly to make any sort of progress.
Soon, Lenny the leopard decided to try some different tactics. First came indifference as he pretended to care more about the spectators than the main event.
Next he tried to intimidate his opponent into giving up.
Finally, he decided that if you can't win, sometimes you just have to change the game.
The leopard realized that he had the tasty end of the impala, so he just sat back and started eating.
Eventually, the croc decided there was no reason to watch the leopard eat when he could be basking in the sun downstream.
Flushed with victory, the leopard stood tall over his prize.
Eventually he picked the impala up, dragged it under a palm tree, and noisily devoured his meal.
A couple weeks ago, Mark over at Chada Katavi wrote a blog about how peaceful the leopards are in Katavi national park. I guess they're just made a bit rougher and tougher here in the Selous.
Speaking of Katavi leopards, nice shot of that leopard I found for you in the mahogany tree in KATAVI! Apparently, though your leopards are so tough, the sightings are so few you have to go to other parks just to get enough photos to complete one blog. And is it Spotty, or Lenny? Or did Spotty start the tug of war and then Lenny stepped in to finish it? Tough, maybe, clever, not. Any respectable leopard knows where to go with a fresh impala kill, which is up a tree. Or...could just lay it on the riverbank and see what happens...
ReplyDelete