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.
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.
“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.”
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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