Meet Twig, a young male leopard whom we watched on a couple of occasions
when out on game drives.
Twig had taken down a young wildebeest the day before we first saw him.
For some reason the kill was still on the ground, not carried up a tree and hung
across a branch which is what a leopard will usually do to protect its meal for
many days from other hungry predators and scavengers.
many days from other hungry predators and scavengers.
Leopards are one of Africa's 'Big Five'. They are the smallest of the big cats yet pound
for pound the strongest. They are also the most secretive, elusive and shrewdest
of the large carnivores. Cubs live with their mothers for about 2 years, and then
become solitary animals in the bush.
Leopard : Panthera pardus
Adult Height - to 31 inches at the shoulder
Lifespan 12 - 17 years
Speed 36 mph (running)
Conservation Status - Near Threatened
Twig's kill kept him busy and I do have many more gory close up shots! We were
parked just a few feet away from him. In case small children view this I'm not
sharing those photos here.
Truly the most handsome of the big cats!
Do you agree?
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