MIDDAY SUN
Leopard on the Edge: A Tree, a Kill, and the Approach of Hyenas
Perched high in the gnarled branches of a marula tree, a leopard reclines beside her freshly claimed prize—a young impala. Her gaze, sharp and deliberate, turns toward the horizon where the distant whoops of hyenas drift closer. She listens intently, her ears swivelling to catch every sound, a master of survival in her solitary existence.
The leopard’s hunt earlier that day had been a study in patience and precision. Unlike her usual ambush techniques, this hunt unfolded under the oppressive midday sun, where temperatures often soared above 30°C. For hours, she had shadowed a herd of impala, their snorts and rhythmic movements revealing a heightened vigilance. Impalas, with their exceptional hearing and keen eyesight, are known to outwit predators by relying on the collective awareness of the herd—a survival strategy honed over millennia.
But this leopard was hungry, and not just for herself. She carried the weight of new life; her growing belly made every hunt a matter of survival for her and her unborn cubs. She adapted her approach, blending seamlessly into the sun-scorched grasslands. Each short, calculated sprint forward was followed by a perfectly still pause, her rosette-coated body disappearing into the golden blades.
Her opportunity came when an impala, seeking shade, wandered toward the base of a marula tree. For the antelope, the tree offered relief from the sweltering heat; for the leopard, it offered a chance. With an explosive burst of power, she struck, her jaws finding the precise grip on the impala’s neck. Within seconds, the hunt was over, and she had secured her much-needed meal.
Leopards, known for their strength and agility, are one of the few big cats capable of hoisting large prey into trees. This unique behavior not only protects their kill from scavengers like hyenas but also showcases their extraordinary upper body strength. This female was no exception. In a display of skill and efficiency, she climbed the marula, balancing the impala between her teeth, and carefully wedged it into the fork of a sturdy branch.
Now, in the relative safety of her arboreal perch, she rested, her muscles still taut from the effort. But her respite was brief. The distant calls of hyenas—one of her most persistent rivals—announced their approach. Hyenas are infamous scavengers, their powerful jaws capable of crunching through bone and their keen noses adept at detecting the scent of a kill from kilometers away.
The leopard’s amber eyes flicked toward the sound. Below, the first of the hyenas arrived, circling the base of the tree, their coarse laughter filling the air. While leopards are often outnumbered by these formidable scavengers, the marula’s height was her shield. For now, her prize was safe, suspended high above the reach of their snapping jaws.
The Tree as a Leopard’s Larder: Nature’s Perfect Safehouse
Once a leopard secures its prey, the next step is critical. The carcass, left on the ground, would be vulnerable to opportunistic scavengers like hyenas, jackals, and even larger predators like lions. But the leopard’s unique climbing strength offers a solution. With incredible power and dexterity, it drags its kill up into the branches of a tree, often positioning it several meters above the ground. This "tree-lardering" not only protects the meal from being stolen but also allows the leopard to feed undisturbed over the course of several days.
A tree serves as the perfect storage location for several reasons. First, the height keeps ground-dwelling scavengers at bay. Few predators, apart from leopards themselves, possess the climbing skills necessary to reach a carcass stashed high in the branches. Second, the foliage of the tree helps to obscure the kill from aerial scavengers such as vultures, reducing the risk of drawing unwanted attention. Finally, the tree provides a secure resting place where the leopard can eat at its own pace, often lying nearby to guard its prize.
Despite being the smallest of the big cats, leopards are incredibly strong. A full-grown leopard can hoist prey weighing up to 100 kilograms—sometimes more—into the tree’s branches. This feat is all the more impressive considering that the carcass must be manoeuvred through dense vegetation and up a vertical trunk. Once the kill is hoisted into the tree, the leopard can feed without interruption. Ground-bound scavengers like hyenas, known for their persistence and powerful jaws, can only circle helplessly below. Lions, which often steal kills from other predators, are thwarted by the leopard’s choice of larder. This ingenious behaviour ensures that the leopard gets the maximum benefit from its hard-earned hunt, extending the life of the meal and conserving energy for future hunts.
Raw Africa Collection
Welcome to Africa - the wise, the restless, the life giving.
This soulful land of dreamers gives rise to the underbelly of a beautiful gentle beat that is only heard by those who listen for it. This photographic journey explores, profiles and captures what I hope is the heart and soul of Africa's true wilderness kingdom. From its deep bush to its dry savannah and desert, Africa remains a place where life is represented by timeless vistas that are distilled into moments to treasure.
Sony A1, Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II, FL: 127mm, S: 1/1,250s, A: F7.1, ISO: 400.
