Posted on 26 February 2025
In an incredible and rare encounter, a mother cheetah is seen risking it all to protect her cub from a leopard.
As submitted by expert guide Daryl Dell on Latest Sightings, the encounter took place at andBeyondTravel’s Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp.
On an early morning in the bush, a cautious cheetah mother could be easily seen scanning the area on top of a termite mound.
Picture: Sourced/Unsplash
Unbeknownst to her, a stealthy leopard settled in a Marula tree and watched her.
Feeling comfortable with her surroundings, the cheetah stepped off the termite mound.
The lurking leopard saw this as an opportunity, quickly jumping from the tree and managing to get closer to the cheetah and her cub.
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Although the cheetah cub would no longer be considered a baby, it was still reaching the stages of being a sub-adult. This meant that it would undoubtedly be an easy target for the leopard. But, not on the mother cheetah’s watch!
While the leopard tried to be still (and basically invisible) after closely sneaking up on the cheetah and her cub, impatience soon got the better of her as she moved slightly and her camouflage was broken.
What happened next was surprising to see…two different species of cats took turns chasing each other around.
Ultimately, the cheetah courageously won the standoff, with her cub following safely behind her. Watch how it all unfolded, courtesy of Latest Sightings.
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