| The Leopard Sighting |
| Written by Phillip Greene | |
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The two male lions had given us yet another thrill that we hadn't counted on. We were not used to such scrutiny from dangerous, wild animals. It was almost dark at that point, when the radio crackled to life again. A leopard had been sighted. Leopard, eyes shining from the ranger's spot lights. Leopard in spotlight
We sped off down the dusty track toward the sighting. Leopard sightings are rare as they hunt only at night. Their eyes are well adapted to night vision and the spot lights on the vehicles don't impair their eyesight at all. The lights do bother the Impala and other antelopes so the rangers are careful not to shine the lights on them. When we arrived at the location of the sighting there were at least four vehicles there all hoping to see the leopard. They were well off the road and getting there required crashing through the bush, pushing down saplings and dodging boulders. Leopards usually have their lair in kopjies, or rocky outcroppings that occur in parts of the bush. We found the carcass of an Impala that had been partially consumed. The leopard had definitely been in the area.
My photographs of the leopard are not good due to the distrance it was from us. The spotlights helped but my flash just wouldn't reach. They are very shy animals and always loners except for a very brief time during the mating season. The leopard finally disappeared into the underbrush and we headed back to the camp and our dinner. Our stay had come to an end and the next day we would return to Johannesburg. Our next adventure was to be a trip to Cape Town and the wine district where we would celebrate New Years. |
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