Spectacular leopard hunt and kill in Botswana

Spectacular video of a leopard hunt and kill captured on safari in Botswana's magnificent Okavango Delta. In Africa, you're lucky if you see a leopard at all, let alone one hunting, as leopards are normally nocturnal predators. We were incredibly fortunate to follow this big male as he patrolled his territory in broad daylight, spotted a warthog, stalked and killed it, and then dragged it quite a distance before finding a good tree to hide it in.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• leopard hunt
• leopard kill
• Africa
• Okavango Delta
• Dumatau
• safari
• predator
• warthot

[JackKangaroo1]

Poor leopard. He's walking around thinking, "Damn, here they are again, I can't even go on a little warthog hunt without three carloads of papparazzi snapping my picture and following me everyplace I go. What a pain in the ass. C'mon, get the hell out of here, why don't cha? Leave me alone. Go look at an elephant or a rhino or something. Jeeze! Enough already!"

[Ladrusty]

@JackKangaroo1 For the most part, leopards hunt at night, when there are no "paparazzi." In Botswana, where this was filmed, the camps have concession areas, so the tourist traffic is limited. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- tourism dollars do more good than any perceived harm. And you'll notice none of the people in the vehicle are yelling or behaving badly or trying to disrupt the hunt. They're simply observing. Check out your local zoo sometime and see the difference.

[OmarionXD8]

You are interfering with wild life but driving your cars there, next time just walk, that way the action would be really close, if u know what i mean.

[Ladrusty]

@OmarionXD8 If you love wildlife, your objections should be aimed at those who still pay to actually hunt and kill these animals for the sheer thrill of being able to claim bragging rights, or at the scourge of poachers who have brought some of Africa's finest literally to the brink of extinction simply because some people in some cultures still pay handsomely for elephant ivory or rhino horns. All we are doing is photographing them. If you object to that, then why watch these videos at all?

[DavidThomasScorbal]

Your video skills are really impressive, this was great footage. Very steady and well-framed. Nice break from the normal earthquake cell phone videos on youtube :)

[JackKangaroo1]

@Ladrusty Excellent point. No animal was ever killed by a camera. I have never understood the ego gratification that some people get from snuffing out the life of another living creature. I've met people who, for example, hunted elephant in Africa. I told them that if I was ever in a position where I had to kill an elephant I would feel deeply ashamed of what I'd done, rather than take pride in it. The trophy hunter has a mentality that I will never understand.

[JackKangaroo1]

@Ladrusty Hello, Ladrusty, and yes I am aware that leopards are primarily nocturnal predators. I was just struck by the casual acceptance of Mr. Leopard at the proximity of tourist vehicles, which indicates he's seen them many times before. I was having a little fun 'getting into his mind,' as that might well be a leopard's sentiments if only he could express them to us. Tourist dollars do help in the overall scheme of things and photographs are harmless, so a happy balance has been attained.

[fullstrutn]

he was a warrior ,,did you see his left ear?

[MrGrayfox16]

@JBADOLIAN1 /nope

[JBADOLIAN1]

Instead of sitting on your ass and watching the poor leopard struggling with that Ham what dont you get your ass out and help him get that thing on the tree..

[MarcothePhoenix]

@Ladrusty will do thanks for the reply lad

[Ladrusty]

@MarcothePhoenix It really depends on where in Africa you want to go, when you want to go, for how long and whether you want to rough it or stay in luxury camps. My guess is that you could probably do a 2-week safari for about $5000 per person not including airfare. Generally speaking, Kenya and Tanzania are cheaper than Botswana. But Zambia -- which is just developing its tourist industry -- probably has some pretty good deals, too. Check on the internet for more info.

[MarcothePhoenix]

@MarcothePhoenix in africa*