Different times of the year bring with them different types of animal behaviour. Around the months of April and May, we tend to see a very specific type of behaviour amongst the impala population, namely the annual rut. Towards the end of summer, the shortening of the days triggers an increase in testosterone amongst impala rams.
This in turn leads to these rams attempting to establish territories, often leading to heavy clashes between males. Not only will the rams chase each other around, but once an individual has claimed a certain territory as his own, he will attempt to herd ewes into his territory in order to mate with them.
It’s not only the clashing of horns that attracts the attention of nearby predators, but also the unique array of noises that the rams make.
A disclaimer to the more sensitive viewers, this blog is not on the impala rut itself, but more so on one of the consequences of it. During these couple of months, the rams become so fixated on bashing heads with each other and herding females to stay within their territories that for periods of time they will let down their guard, creating great opportunities for predators to seek them out.
This photograph highlights how attentive impalas usually are. Here, every member of the herd has their gaze fixed on the Senegal Bush Male, making sure they keep a safe distance. During the rutting season, rams tend to let down their guard.
Recently I was lucky enough to witness to such an event. Along with two other ranger-tracker duos, we had successfully tracked and found the Nkoveni Female. When we eventually found her, she was lying down in the long grass, potentially trying to remain undetected by the herds of impala in the vicinity. After spending the better part of an hour with her in the hope that she might hunt or patrol her territory, she suddenly picked her head up and locked her gaze on a pair of impala rams that were engaged in a fierce battle. The intense clash of the horns is irresistible to predators.
The Nkoveni Female is awakened from her slumber by the sound of impala rams rutting nearby. She quickly sat up to investigate what was happening around her.
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.
It was incredible to watch her behaviour transition from being completely relaxed and dozy to right into hunting mode within seconds. Most times that I have seen a leopard attempt to hunt, they have slowly and steadily stalked their prey until coming within striking distance, but not this time. She noticed that these rams were so fixated on each other that it was unlikely that they were going to notice her approach. She kept low to the ground but moved with purpose and at speed, freezing dead still every time they lifted their heads from fighting.
Seconds after holding this posture she got low to the ground and closed the gap between her and the impalas
Words can only do so much to describe what unfolded, so here is a video was taken by a guest, Martha Myers, that captures the events that transpired.
As you can see in the video, there were more rams in the background that wanted to get in on the action, this likely benefitted her as they draw more attention towards them instead of her.
The dust has settled. By this stage, she had eventually drawn the last breath of the impala and was now looking for a nearby tree in which she could potentially hoist her kill
It was all over within a minute, she had successfully taken down a fully grown male impala, weighing roughly 70kgs, significantly larger than her. After gripping her jaws around the ram’s throat and successfully asphyxiating it, she dragged it more than 50 metres to the base of a suitable tree in case she needed to hoist it to keep the hyenas away from it.
The sheer power of a leopard never ceases to amaze me. Her incredibly strong jaw and neck muscles enabled her to hold up and drag the flimsy (and significantly heavier) carcass more than 50 metres.
The ordeal was far from over. At this stage the rest of the impalas were still alarm-calling at her, attracting huge amounts of attention from other predators such as hyenas, lions and other leopards that may have been in the area. She waisted no time in moving the carcass away from the herd and to a more secluded area with a large marula tree nearby.
The Nkoveni Female’s ability to hunt large prey definitely contributes to her being a successful mother to her two cubs that have almost reached independence.
Once the commotion had come to a close and the impala alarm calls faded, she began to feed on it for a short while. She then proceeded to head off into the darkness, most likely to fetch her two cubs for them to share in on the feast. We left her in peace and she left us all in awe, it was most definitely an afternoon that I will never forget.
I love leopards they are among my favourite animals, but also impalas. They are both graceful and beautiful animals, leopards are highly clever but impalas are not stupid at all. It is nature ‘s law, at least the ram died quickly. The winners must have been happy without their competitor…
So do I, Francesca! Natural selection plays its course on a daily basis.
Let your guard down and it can be fatal …
As it was in this scenario. Unfortunately for the impala, It’s almost impossible to be watching out 100% of the time.
Thanks Robert for this great blog, the photos and the video . So your readers can take part, at least a bit, in the excitement of such a kill. What great hunter she is.
You’re welcome, Christa. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Robbie that was an amazing experience to witness. Nkoveni has so much power and strength to bring down a impala ram and hoist it high up in the Marula tree. She is a formidable hunter forsure. Thanks to your guest who took the video and shared it with us.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Valmai, an incredible hunter and mother she is!
Terrific video and photos! Thanks for sharing this with us, Robert Ball!
You’re welcome, Darlene! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Bravo to the Nkoveni female. That’s really impressive for her size to take down a fully grown Impala male. The accompanying video and your photos really completed your narrative. I hope she was able to hoist it into a tree before it could be stolen.
She didn’t end up hoisting it, she did manage to lead her two cubs back to the kill and proceeded to feed on it until it was pretty much finished anyways.
Awesome video and blog the hunting skill and strength of the leopard are just incredible. Thank you for sharing this encounter.
You’re welcome, Moira. I’m glad you enjoyed the read!
Amazing strength and agility!
Amazing indeed!
Such an incredible sight to witness, wow! I imagine the adrenaline was pumping for all the viewers for quite some time.
Spot on Chelsea, I struggled to fall asleep that night!
To witness a leopard hunting and then dragging the kill into the bush is such a thrill! They are truly amazing predators. Love the photos!
I’m glad you enjoyed them Lisa, amazing predators they are indeed!