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Peiying Mo | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> South Africa >> South Africa - 2015 >> Big 5: Leopard tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Big 5: Leopard

Leopards are the 2nd largest cat in the African continent. They weigh on average at 60-70kg, with male heavier and rounder, bigger head. They are solitary and very quiet animal, hardly making noise. Leopards can survive without drinking for days, and eats on average one kilograms (2.2lbs) of meat a day. They are nocturnal animals, and their favorite preys are antelopes.

On this trip, we only saw one leopard, about 5 years old. It was a full moon night, a preferable condition for the preys to avoid the predators.
First sighting of the big cat - very close to us
First sighting of the big cat - very close to us
He is following something
He is following something
He then disappears in the bushes
He then disappears in the bushes
Then we finds him again - still looking
Then we finds him again - still looking
Checking...
Checking...
Then walking away...
Then walking away...
...into the bushes
...into the bushes
Resurfacing again on a tiny hill-top
Resurfacing again on a tiny hill-top
He tries to keep a low-profile
He tries to keep a low-profile
The moon is full tonight, not good for the predators
The moon is full tonight, not good for the predators
He is now just chilling out
He is now just chilling out
Eye contact, finally!  What a beauty!!
Eye contact, finally! What a beauty!!
We are a boring bunch!
We are a boring bunch!
His patience eventually runs out.
His patience eventually runs out.