Caught in action: Leopard wades waist-deep into dry waterhole to fish

A leopard catches a catfish in muddy waters in the Klaserie private nature reserve. | Candice Papping

KEY POINTS

  • A leopard went on a fishing frenzy for days after a drying waterhole began to dwindle – and was captured in the act.
  • Some species of African catfish can survive in hot, dry conditions by reducing their metabolism until they become inactive.
  • Meanwhile, leopards adapt to extreme circumstances by eating whatever they find, and fish are no exception.

Leopard Hunting is not limited to antelopes and rodents. They are opportunistic predators that take almost anything that moves, even fish.

Candice Pappina safari host in South Africaknew something was up when he saw a leopard frequenting an ever-shrinking waterhole in Klaserie Private Nature ReserveIt soon became clear that the big cat was there to catch catfish.
“I knew he was waiting for all the fish to be piled up under the log, so I kept coming back to see him,” said Pappin, who guides tourists on Touched by nature safaris, said Latest sightings.

Some species of catfish in Africa They have adapted to their harsh conditions, such as drought, through estivation, a state of dormancy achieved by slowing down their metabolism.

A pool of murky water is enough for these fish to survive for several weeks. However, lowering the water level can also attract new predators, and leopards are no exception.

Pappin, hoping to see the big cat in action when he returned, went to that particular waterhole. The leopard was there, though it was a memorable sighting as nothing happened for the next three hours.

Their safari vehicle was about to leave when two wild boars appeared, causing the sighted visitor to adopt a stalking position, only to escape as soon as they caught their scent.

“The leopard failed to catch the wild boars, but the chaos caused by their escape led to the fish fighting, which definitely caught the leopard’s attention,” he said. release read.

“As if a switch was flipped inside him, he ran straight to the log and decided it was now or never. Looking at the fish, he reached into the muddy water and in one swift motion grabbed one.”

On one occasion, the leopard ventured into the waterhole up to his waist, even submerging his head. When the fishing cat emerged, he was covered in mud from head to toe. images sample.

Pappin said he had caught 11 fish by the end of the sighting. A stork and an osprey managed to steal some, while the leopard made off with the rest of the catch and left some fish lying in the mud.

It was just the beginning of a fishing frenzy that lasted for several days and probably continued until the water dried up completely.

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