@ BB, knowing you this may be a tongue in the cheek comment
but anyway: I think there is more to the leopard's visit to the tent than shade. There are lots of trees around Rooiputs, it is much cooler under those than in the annex of a RTT. In fact it can get quite hot in there.
During my visit at Rooiputs and at other unfenced camps, I noticed how pray animals will quite often hang around our camping area - as if they know predators tend to avoid humans and that being close to humans will provide some protection. I remember at KTC we had a herd of springbok sleep under a tree right outside the parking area of our tented cabin. From all the droppings there I could see it is a regular sleep-over spot. I also remember the incident at KTC where a blue wildebeest ran under a tented cabin for protection from hyenas. Ditto I have read about incidents where pray animals took shelter under/behind vehicles during predator attacks.
The leopard seems to be very young and it may just be that she know that she will have protection in the tent - hence the total lack of aggression towards the photographer. Sometimes I think these animals are much smarter than what we tend to believe and that they are much more aware of us and our status in nature's pecking order. I think the fact that there were lions 300 meters down the road may have driven here closer to humans as well.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
.jpg)
