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View Full Version : Spotted a Leopard!


Antarctican
02-03-2009, 11:31 AM
There are very few leopards left in Tanzania, so we were grateful to come across this one while on safari. It had somehow dragged its kill (a young wildebeest) way up this thorny tree, to dine on it at its leisure.
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/701/img4364pcrll6.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5642/img4388pr2jg8.jpg

Antarctican
02-03-2009, 11:38 AM
This shot gives you an idea how high it dragged the kill...above the half-way point of the tree.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4625/img4362pcrhg8.jpg

Antarctican
02-03-2009, 11:42 AM
And as with any other 'cat', it sat down for a good cleanup after dinner...

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2637/img4400pcrqg1.jpg

Terri
02-04-2009, 02:24 PM
What a sight! You had the presence of mind to walk back and take the shot with the safari truck which really puts it all into perspective - not just the height of the tree, but how hard it really is to spot these cats!

Good shooting. :salute: Beautiful animal!

Antarctican
02-04-2009, 03:04 PM
What a sight! You had the presence of mind to walk back and take the shot with the safari truck which really puts it all into perspective Oh, there's no 'walking' on this type of safari. The big cats are sneaky and fast...we'd end up as 'tourist carpaccio'. The tour operators aren't supposed to let you out of the vehicle for [I]any reason. Although I've heard stories of people having to get out and push the vehicle if it breaks down, or tourists with small bladders pleading to relieve themselves, and begrudgingly being allowed to go right behind the vehicle.

Karissa
02-04-2009, 08:39 PM
Well in that case... what a nice "little" lens you must have. Those pictures look fantastically sharp!

Terri
02-05-2009, 09:31 AM
Oh, there's no 'walking' on this type of safari. The big cats are sneaky and fast...we'd end up as 'tourist carpaccio'. The tour operators aren't supposed to let you out of the vehicle for [I]any reason. Although I've heard stories of people having to get out and push the vehicle if it breaks down, or tourists with small bladders pleading to relieve themselves, and begrudgingly being allowed to go right behind the vehicle.I had NO idea. I guess it makes sense...you might have looked mighty tasty with your back turned, alone and vulnerable. I've heard certain cheetahs can reach a top speed of 60 MPH...whew! Scary, in a thrilling kind of way, to be that close.

Tangerini
02-07-2009, 07:39 PM
Those are great! What a wonderful opportunity. The way the leopard is crouching in the first makes it look like he/she was eying you all as competition.