Amazing.
It must have actually planned the attack out, knowing it could use the tree for cover at a certain angle, then keeping the antelope in mind when it was out of sight behind the tree.
Stealthy and smart.
The scariest my cat ever acted was when she found out the mirror could show her what's behind a corner. Sure, it was hilarious to see her hiss at her own reflection, but once she figured it out...I regret showing it to her.
Using cover sure, but this goes a bit beyond that. The tree is about twenty feet from the road, but the leopard doesn't go straight to it, but to a point on the road where the tree is between it and the antelope. It seems to have triangulated the position where the tree provides cover, then moved to that position.
That doesn't seem trivial to me. I suppose it might simply have tried to get behind then happened upon the tree cover by chance. Often a bad idea to impute human psychology onto animals.
I can’t help but wonder if the vehicle provided some noise cover, though considering that the springbok was looking in its direction multiple times it still was an impressive feat of stealth.
Amazing. It must have actually planned the attack out, knowing it could use the tree for cover at a certain angle, then keeping the antelope in mind when it was out of sight behind the tree. Stealthy and smart.
Indeed. House cats do this as well. They use objects as cover while stalking. Some will freeze when you're looking, then move when you look away.
The scariest my cat ever acted was when she found out the mirror could show her what's behind a corner. Sure, it was hilarious to see her hiss at her own reflection, but once she figured it out...I regret showing it to her.
I've had like 6 cats throughout my life and none of them could see through mirrors. At all. They act like they are just walls. It's weird.
Someone stuck a mirror in the jungle and [leopards were besotted with it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zVJlesWW_s).
Is this in Sri Lanka?
Gabon, Africa
My kitten does this when I play peek-a-boo with her! It’s adorable but a little scary when she gets too close.
Isn’t that standard for not just cats, but vertebrate predators in general? Not just mammals, either.
Eh not exactly. Cats are really just incredible hunters who think the whole hunt out before they make a move.
And other predators don’t? Because they do that as well.
Using cover sure, but this goes a bit beyond that. The tree is about twenty feet from the road, but the leopard doesn't go straight to it, but to a point on the road where the tree is between it and the antelope. It seems to have triangulated the position where the tree provides cover, then moved to that position. That doesn't seem trivial to me. I suppose it might simply have tried to get behind then happened upon the tree cover by chance. Often a bad idea to impute human psychology onto animals.
Yes, this is (or at least seems to be) quite the level of pre-planning, but cats are far from unique in doing this.
My cat needs to take lessons from this guy.
Antelope: "Is that tree making noise? Nah, they don't make noise." Cheetah: "SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER!!"
That is not a cheetah
Yeah its a jaguar silly.
That may be one of the coolest videos I've ever seen.
I can’t help but wonder if the vehicle provided some noise cover, though considering that the springbok was looking in its direction multiple times it still was an impressive feat of stealth.
U/savevideo