When the hunter lay down with its prey
April 8th 2009 11:15
The animal kingdom never ceases to amaze me. A predator whose instinct is to kill is transformed by the wonder that confronts it.
This piece of footage by National Geographic follows a leopard which after taking down one its most feared enemies is puzzled by the baby its kill was carrying. In an astonishing piece of footage you see what can only be described as a true mystery and miracle.
Although the ending is not a happy one, it is the tale itself which makes it fascinating and heartwarming.
From National Geographic:
When Legadema was five months old, her mother brought her a live baby impala. At first, the cub wasn’t sure what to do with the animal. She began playing with it like a toy.
Then she started to attack it, but she didn’t really know how to kill it. Her mother patiently guided her. She taught her cub how to turn a living animal into a meal.
Learning the lesson well, the cub turned her attention toward the squirrels. She played dizzying games of hide-and-seek with them. The games she had played weren’t just for fun. They taught her to hunt and kill prey.
Over the years, she killed hundreds of squirrels. She also took down larger prey, such as baby warthogs.When Legadema was 13 months old, she got into a spat with her mother. This happened when the cub refused to share a meal. Her mother drove her out. The cub would have to survive on her own.
At first, she lived close to her mother’s den. She hunted in her mother’s territory. Slowly, she moved away and found her own territory. She hunted prey and hid from predators.
Leopards are usually afraid of baboons. One day, though, Legadema really surprised us. She killed an adult female baboon. Then she discovered a baby clinging to his dead mother.
The tiny baboon stretched his arms out to Legadema. For the next few hours, the leopard cub cared for the newborn baboon.
She groomed him. She carried him high into a tree to keep him safe. The two cuddled up and went to sleep. Despite Legadema’s care, the baby didn’t make it through the night.
Today, Legadema is four. She has a mate and may soon have cubs. She will teach them the same lessons her mother taught her.
This video is truly something special that was caught on film. Isn't nature wonderful?
Information from National Geographic
This piece of footage by National Geographic follows a leopard which after taking down one its most feared enemies is puzzled by the baby its kill was carrying. In an astonishing piece of footage you see what can only be described as a true mystery and miracle.
Although the ending is not a happy one, it is the tale itself which makes it fascinating and heartwarming.
From National Geographic:
When Legadema was five months old, her mother brought her a live baby impala. At first, the cub wasn’t sure what to do with the animal. She began playing with it like a toy.
Then she started to attack it, but she didn’t really know how to kill it. Her mother patiently guided her. She taught her cub how to turn a living animal into a meal.
Learning the lesson well, the cub turned her attention toward the squirrels. She played dizzying games of hide-and-seek with them. The games she had played weren’t just for fun. They taught her to hunt and kill prey.
Over the years, she killed hundreds of squirrels. She also took down larger prey, such as baby warthogs.When Legadema was 13 months old, she got into a spat with her mother. This happened when the cub refused to share a meal. Her mother drove her out. The cub would have to survive on her own.
At first, she lived close to her mother’s den. She hunted in her mother’s territory. Slowly, she moved away and found her own territory. She hunted prey and hid from predators.
Leopards are usually afraid of baboons. One day, though, Legadema really surprised us. She killed an adult female baboon. Then she discovered a baby clinging to his dead mother.
The tiny baboon stretched his arms out to Legadema. For the next few hours, the leopard cub cared for the newborn baboon.
She groomed him. She carried him high into a tree to keep him safe. The two cuddled up and went to sleep. Despite Legadema’s care, the baby didn’t make it through the night.
Today, Legadema is four. She has a mate and may soon have cubs. She will teach them the same lessons her mother taught her.
This video is truly something special that was caught on film. Isn't nature wonderful?
Information from National Geographic
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Comment by Lilla
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How sad the little baboon was too young to make it through, it would have forged a special friendship alright. Thangs are certainly changing in the consciousness of even the jungle itself it seems. . .
Worth logging on for.
Cheers
Lilla ..
Comment by Janet Collins
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Takes the whole "law of the jungle" into a better sphere.