Video: Leopard Befriends Young Impala
OutdoorHub Reporters 01.05.15
Game rangers in South Africa’s Kruger National Park see a lot of strange things, but they rarely see a leopard making friends with what is essentially its Thursday dinner. According to Barcroft TV, park ranger Estiaan Houy filmed this encounter while out on safari with guests. Instead of fleeing for its life, this young impala seems determined to make friends with an adult leopard. Despite being batted around by the playful feline, the impala sticks around and eventually ends up chilling with the predator.
The bizarre interaction lasted about an hour before the leopard left, quickly followed by its new, tasty friend. We’re not sure what happened to the confused impala, or why it developed its strange attraction to the large cat. Did it think the leopard was its mother? Did it smell good? Or was the impala just that brave that it was willing to risk being dinner to satisfy its curiosity?
Whatever the case, the leopard probably didn’t mind having the impala close at hand—especially if it got snackish.
