Leopard Predation Thread

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Rob the Ranger.

An incredible sighting of the Torchwood male leopard killing a screaming warthog next to our vehicle!


Male leopards seem to prefer preying on warthogs and can often be spotted near a warthog burrow.

In this case we spotted the Torchwood male leopard sitting on top of a termitarium well known for warthog activity, as we approached the spot a family of warthog burst from cover before the cameras were even ready! 

Torchwood male leopard is a skilled warthog hunter and you can see how he subdues the warthog by severing the brachial artery in the axial area of the front leg staying away from the dangerous warthog tusks. The sighting is graphic at this point as the leopard kills the screaming warthog.

The warthog did not take long to bleed out leaving the leopard time to clean up from the safe vantage point of the termitarium. The sealing of the warthog could have attracted the attention of other predators so moving to a good vantage point was a wise safety move on the leopards part.

Later we returned to find the leopard having a drink at a nearby waterhole, watched by giraffe and hippo. After quenching his thirst the leopard retrned to his warthog kill and started to feed.

The leopard seemed reluctant to move the warthog carcass to the safety of a tree and eventually later at nighttime a hyena stole the warthog from the leopard and ran off with it.

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