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Crazy amazing leopard encounter at Yala National Park today. Thread here.
We were on our way out of the park on the main trunk road when we saw this adult male (known as Julius), chilling in this tree. Watched him for a good 20mins as he rested. pic.twitter.com/PW7Xt72uMC — Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
Suddenly, he gets up and spots a small herd of water buffalo, calves in tow, walking down the road. pic.twitter.com/rMd8i5q0oE
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
Stalks the buffalo along the edge of the road for several minutes, coming out close to the road to get a sighter, then ducking back into cover as he closes the distance. pic.twitter.com/PTKcmvP9le
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
At one point he has to cross a creek. Astonishing. pic.twitter.com/mtxju04Qck
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
What’s clear is that he’s an experienced hunter. Here, he has closed the distance fully, and creeps up to the herd completely unseen. You can spot his head and ears in the thicket here as buffalo wander by metres away, unaware. pic.twitter.com/p1rBPdJ4kv
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
But he bides his time, continuing to stalk the herd, until a calf is in striking distance. The attack.
(This video is by our tracker Ravindu Sahimal. I was too stunned to even think about recording this part.) pic.twitter.com/kPnklajtJe — Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
The adult buffalo aren’t having it though. He’s trying to drag the calf away, but the buffalo surround him and both stomp and stick him with their horns. It’s a melee. He’d be forced off the calf, then recover and grab it again. (? Ravindu Sahimal) pic.twitter.com/jwF0oFGNK8
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
In the end, the buffalo force him off for good and he retreats into a tree. The calf is hurt -back/shoulder area is cut up and bloody.
When we spot the leopard later, he’s hurt as well. A horn has pierced him near his hind leg. Both the leopard and the calf can walk normally. — Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021
The herd made off down the road quickly after recovering calf, but the leopard followed at a distance. (Not stalking this time.)
Tracker Ravindu thought that the leopard will probably follow the herd all day and then attack it again under cover of darkness. — Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) February 1, 2021