They don’t call him Magic Mike for nothing…Ranger Michael Beard delivered a leopard sighting of mammoth proportions last night, which enthralled his guests. Here’s the story of Zero, the hero and the ultimate showdown between cat and antelope.
In the early hours of the morning, a cacophony of sound enveloped Africa on Foot. It was the deep throated barking and roaring of lions contact calling. Enoch, a highly-skilled and knowledgeable tracker decided to track the lions in the hopes of finding the beloved Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses or even the Trilogy males.
In the wild, when you’re dead set on finding one thing; something else always appears. While searching for the hard-to-get lions, Enoch discovered a neat line of fresh leopard tracks heading towards Tower Pan dam. Interestingly enough, the tracks backtracked along the same path. This is often an indication that a kill has just been made. Leopards will drag their kill up into a tree for safekeeping, feast on it until they are sufficiently satisfied and then seek out an available water source to replenish their thirst. After quenching their thirst they’ll return to their meal.
Enoch followed the loop of tracks and sent Magic Mike on a mission up ahead. Zero (commonly spotted male leopard) has been spotted hiding out in a drainage line close to the area where the tracks were seen; so Mike reckoned the probability of seeing him there again was pretty high. Mike reckons the area is actually a hotspot for Zero sightings!
Mike heard the alarm calls from birds above him and a general frenetic twittering from birds. An obvious giveaway that a deadly predator was about. So Mike kept his wits about him and traced Zero’s prints until there were no more tracks…
Lo and behold, there was Zero, hiding out in the drainage line ! Mike kept his distance and returned to his vehicle. Enoch reckons that Zero was watching Mike the whole time. Out of respect fro Zero and his need for space; the team ventured off into a clearing to enjoy a few well-deserved sundowner drinks. When night fell and the all-encompassing colours of the Klaserie sky fell into oblivion, Mike led the team back to the drainage line to show guests the leopard sighting.
They watched Zero for a few minutes while he re-positioned himself in the thickets. The next minute Zero spotted a herd of impala and the stalking began. Mike, Enoch and their guests watched a cruel but incredible act of nature unfold before their eyes. Zero then sprinted for about 60 metres and killed an impala calf! Guests watched the entire scenario unfold RIGHT IN FRONT of the vehicle. When the kill was made, Zero sauntered off into the thickets and stashed his prize in the fork of a tree.
The following morning, the carcass was still draped over the branches of the tree. We’re willing to bet that Zero will return to his meal tonight; and hopefully guests will enjoy yet another epic Klaserie leopard sighting.
Thank you Mike and enoch, for being our hero’s and delivering a leopard kill sighting. Moments like this don’t come around very often.
Brenda Quatember