suspense
/səˈspɛns/ noun: a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.
Mason Cooley said that suspense combines curiosity with fear and pulls them up a rising slope. Although he may have been referring to the suspense delivered in writing novels, on this day this quote couldn’t hold more true. The rising slope though was a Marula tree.
The Nkoveni Female Leopard had made an impala kill and had hoisted it in a Marula tree. She was seen feeding on it with her two cubs earlier that morning. We were unable to get there so made it our plan for the afternoon. Arriving there we found that one of the cubs was at the base of a Torchwood tree about 15 metres from the Marula tree where the Nkoveni Female and the other cub were. All three leopards had very full bellies and a large hyena lay patiently at the base of the Marula awaiting any scraps.
It is no secret that a hyena would readily kill a leopard cub for a quick meal, something which none of us would like to witness. This is where nature can be cruel and one has to be as sensitive as possible not to influence the dynamics between these animals.
Hyenas will often scavenge at the base of a tree when the kill is hoisted by a leopard.
The cub on the ground did have a vantage point and enough distance to allow it to react if the hyena had to make an advance towards it. There was however, a Jacklaberry tree just next to the Torchwood that the cub could easily make his escape into. We sat and enjoyed the last of the sunset disappearing behind the Marula tree as the Nkoveni Female lay asleep. The one cub in the tree became increasingly restless and caught the attention of the cub on the ground.
One of the cubs sits at the base of a Torchwood tree, eagerly staring at its mother and sibling in a Marula tree nearby
A gorgeous female who is found to the east of camp. Easily recognised by her 2:2 spot pattern she is often to be found in Marula trees.
I searched the canopy of the tree for any scraps of the impala carcass that the hyena was waiting for but nothing remained. I’m assuming that the hyena did not know this and lurked close by just in case there might be something to devour, preventing the trio of leopards from reuniting. Adding to this delay in union, the Nkoveni Female lay there sleeping with little sign of getting active anytime soon. The one cub kept climbing over her while licking her as it became more impatient with the lack of response from its mother.
The one cub licking its mother in an attempt to wake her up by climbing over her and grooming her.
Suddenly, the cub on the ground stood up and its gaze became fixated on the Marula tree. One could see its desire to get to its sibling and mother.
The cub is ready to make its advance towards the tree to join its mother and sibling
The cub very cautiously began to loop around the back of our vehicle. The hyena which still lay about four metres from the base of the tree, could wake up at any minute and go after the cub. Unaware of any of this happening the mother’s eyes were still closed. The grass was long providing the cub reasonable cover and not too far from its right was a Red Bushwillow, big enough for it to climb.
Suspense
We felt fear knowing that the Nkoveni Female was not aware that this cub had begun to approach the tree and it had quite the distance to cover with few trees to scale if needed as it moved closer. The hyena would get to the cub too fast for the mother to be able to react or do anything.
We were also curious: what would happen? The cub could maybe cover the distance, but what about the attempted climb? There was no room for error. At this point we had to sit tight as any movement by us would affect this sighting regardless of what the outcome would be.
It was an interesting parallax to be in as there was no answer I could give as to what would happen next. Looking back at the situation, maybe the Nkoveni Female did know the cub was making its way to the tree and didn’t want to lift her head up to alert the hyena. The only solace I had and could give my guests was that these cubs had survived this long and knew the threat of hyenas, they also had natural instincts and over the past months practiced climbing up and down many trees.
And so the cub proceeded to advance towards the tree, each paw expertly placed directly where the other paw had been. Carefully. Slowly. Precisely. Purposefully.
The hyena and Nkoveni Female unmoved. The stalking and precision of this cub was fascinating and quite honestly breathtaking. Captivated by the scene, we waited anxiously for every movement. Silence surrounded us, with the occasional muffled words of encouragement in between bouts of holding our breath. It is these stalking skills that ensure the survival of a leopard out here and the ability to sneak up on prey. For this cub, it was being able to get to the tree undetected. For us, it was like time slowed down as all of us were rooting for the cub, but had absolutely no part to play except waiting on the outskirts and watching.
The distance covered was about 15 metres and the time taken felt like an eternity. The fear of possibly seeing a leopard cub get killed was exhausting and we sat fixated on every step this cub took. Six minutes and 47 seconds later, to be exact, the cub got to the base of the tree. We couldn’t see anything at this point and just waited…
One minute and 35 seconds later…
It made a leap and began to climb the tree. Sheer relief engulfed my vehicle with awkward whispered cheers and fist pumps. It made it!
It’s sometimes hard to convey the feeling of a sighting through words so you may need to use a little imagination. This isn’t a blog about the story itself, but rather a note on how various sightings can make us feel. This cub managed to stalk its way silently, completely undetected by the hyena. At such a young age it was remarkable to see this cub practice these valuable skills needed to hunt one day and use them in an arguably life or death situation. After getting back to camp and the adrenaline having worn off, it was a gentle reminder as to how quickly everything can change out there. How sometimes the suspense of it all is what keeps you reeling in every sighting. Mason Cooley certainly was right it was the combination of curiosity and fear that keeps you in suspense.
Glad the little guy made it. Lovely pictures-thanks for sharing!
With pleasure Marc, glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
Kirst, The suspense and anxious feelings we got from your story were real and we were not even there with you! Pulses were racing and we were hopeful the story would end well – thanks for the ride!
Marvelous description. Having seen a very similar situation with Matt and Terrence last week, I can attest to the fact that no one breathes when a cub is trying to best a hyena.
Beautifully written and the pictures are superb. I imagine if any cub has a chance to adulthood it will be this one. Wow!
Oh my goodness! I would also have been holding my breath but it’s brilliant that the cub reacted this way.
The Nkoveni female is a great mum and she can’t be always on the edge… but in this case you surely were! It’s much better this way the hyena having its scraps and the cub surviving … lovely pictures !
How exhilarating that experience was to watch that little cub move so quickly, quietly, and make it to his mom in the tree, without waking the hyena. That surely shows that he has learned some good lessons to be able to escape that kind of danger. Very relieved that he made it up that tree and safe with his mom.
Talk about holding your breath! Congratulations to the mother and the cub!! 💕Victoria
I am happy that the cub arrived safely at his mother‘s side. Life and death are indeed dreadfully close to each other. Not only in the bush and the animal world, but in human lives as well. So it‘s great that the little one made it.
Wow! What a sighting and what an adventure for the little cub. Thanks for this intimate look into the lives of the leopards of Londolozi.
Certainly an adventure for us as well! Glad you enjoyed this blog!
Whoa, that had to have been heartstopping as the cub made its way to the tree. Seems this could be another example of learned behavior or instinctual. How did the cub know it could carefully walk the 15metres without awaking the hyena or alert its sibling or mother. One move, one sound could mean death. I like to believe it’s a bit of both.
Great photos!!
Must be a mix of both! It really was rather wonderful to witness!
Just reading this I found myself holding my breath. That little cub has learned well and I am so glad that all ended happily. I think you are right Kirst, that Mum played sleeping so as not to alert the hyena. Thank you very much fir sharing with us.
With pleasure Leonie it certainly was a gripping experience !
Great account and photos! Any chance the blog could do an update on the various leopards or the Mashaba Female and her relatives at some point?
Thank you for the suggestion Michael!
Unsure if you had read the blog posted a while ago titled ‘The Mashaba, Nkoveni and Ximungwe females current family dynamics’
https://blog.londolozi.com/2021/08/02/the-mashaba-nkoveni-and-ximungwe-females-current-family-dynamics/
What an incredible scene to have witnessed Kirst ! I have to say as your story unfolded I was rooted to my chair, thousands of miles away from Londolozi, yet filled with that same suspense and fear for the outcome ! What relief, what a story 🙏🏻. Thanks so much for sharing this ❤️
You have an alternative career as a short story author! Geat re-creation!
Reading your blog and looking at the beautiful photos made me very hold my breath and gave me the shivers. It was as if I was there with you.. What a relief the cub made it. 🙏
Truly a suspenseful read!
When cub made it onto the bow of the tree and gave that little pant..whew, I made it! 💗
Wow, what a post, and what marvellous photos. I was on the edge of my seat reading this, and rushing through it for the outcome. Such a wonderful, happy ending! That cub is pretty smart!
Wow, What a courageous and skilful little cub.. I can’t imagine how exhausted you all were when you returned to the lodge. Thank you for sharing
What a fantastic sighting and story! I would have been holding my breath and extremely anxious, but in the end the cub knew what to do, and had an incredible chance to practice these life-saving skills! Whew! Glad that it ended well!