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If I go on my own experience, I have to disagree with this statement about leopards. Lions (also) do not hesitate to make eye-contact when walking past one's car. I have witnessed this on many occasions and it's always a chilling experience!

To all the posters in this thread, very interesting topic to read! Do not know about lions, Littleleopard, but I can sure agree with Bucky as far as leopards are concerned. Something like this...



*Obelix not liking being looked at in this way - Obelix rather prefer himself looking at wild boars in this way*

Can't argue with that. Lovey picture.

I must agree leopards, do make eye contact but I have had lions making eye contact as well. As you can see on my avatar.

I think you might have misunderstood my comment. I was not disagreeing that leopards make eye contact, I was pointing out that, in my experience, lions also do. I was disagreeing with the fact that leopards were the only predators that will look one in the eye.

Great leopard pic, by the way!

Lions have a way of surveying the vehicle as they saunter past as if to say mm "tinned meat today".

Interesting debate. All animals have the ability to make eye contact, I think we only recall eye contact with predators as their eyes are penetrating and send a shiver down our spines and make us feel a bit uncomfortable.
Kruger animals are so used to cars that they no longer fear them and will saunter past and give a casual look.

Leopards seldom pose a threat when walking in the bush. The reason for this is that the avoid humans and know about your presense long before you know about theirs. Left alone they are not a problem BUT threaten or provoke them and you have a real problem.

Back off sideways and never to the back. NEVER make eye contact especially when it stand sideways on to you and croach down. They do not warn you about charging and when they do, they come in very fast and low. It will use burst charges which will give you time to back away, but once commited to a full charge only a brainshot will stop it... When it hits you it goes for the throat a even the dew claws are used to rip you apart. The rear feet will come up, hitting you under the diaphram disembowling you. When you go down it will maul and kill you by by biting you at the back of the neck. Like WTM said Stroganof.....

Moenie hierdie katjie sonder handskoene aanpak nie
Never under estimate a leopard.

Thanks for the great expert opinion Pilane!

Some opinions by Bruce Bryden in his book.

Most hunters of all eras regards the Leopard as the most dangerous animal of the Big 5.

Most old and new Rangers agree that the Leopard is the most dangerous animal.

They also believe that leopards attacking humans is where a routine has settled in .. Most people killed in the Park by Leopards had a routine they followed ... Consider it as the KNP's version of the Hi-Jack method.

Leopards can conceal themselves the best of all the animals. One leopard once caught an Impala in his garden by breaking throught the gate .. Bruce saw the dead Impala but nothing else .. he closed the gate and the following morning he could see that a leopard had been chowing down on the impala ...

I'm now crap scared of leopards!! But I still want to see them

Pre...cisely.

Thanks W@H. I am very very much intrigued by maneaters! It would be an honour for me if I had to turn my toes up after the dew claws of a leopard had a nice long look at my 6 pack.

But then he must stamp me cancelled there & then, cause heaven knows what infection and pain a man suffers after a business transaction with Chui!

The difference between leopards and lions is that, shbould you disturb either of them whilst walking in the bush, the leopard is more likely to (but not neccessarily) slink away or remain hidden wherea s the lion is more likely to jump out and give you a warning, which you will ignore at your peril!

Both will attack if they feel threatened, especially if they have young, but the lion pride is more likely to have the young with them if they are not newly born, whereas the leopard has probably left her child at home while she goes on walkabout.

Leopards are certainly more sneaky than lions and will circle the unwary, hidden in the bush, until they find a direction for attack that is favourable but attacks are less likely due to their afore-mentioned smaller size and the fact that they will usually be alone.

Autopsies on leopards that attack people in villages have shown that, on the whole, they are sick, have broken teeth or are old and weak.
While this applies to lions also in some cases, most human deaths caused by lion attacks are due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time (or by human stupidity) and I believe that there are far more records of human fatalities caused by lions than by leopards?

I rest my case, for now!