Spot of bother: Leopard cub runs for its life from hungry hyena before scrambling up a tree to escape
- The footage was captured by Moosa Varachia at the Kruger National Park
- People spot the leopard cub hiding under a bush before four hyenas appear
- One of the hyenas catches the cub’s scent and begins chasing after it
- Unable to reach full speed, the young cub clings to a tree and climbs to safety
The dramatic moment a leopard cub ran for its life away from a hungry hyena has been caught on camera.
The footage, which was uploaded today, was captured by Moosa Varachia, a 30-year-old accountant and part-time photographic guide while he was at the Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa.
The clip shows an eleven-month-old leopard cub hiding under a bush while its mother is on a hunt to feed it.
Several people on the safari spot the leopard cub before a pack of four hyenas appear.
One of the witnesses can be heard saying: ‘there’s a leopard in the first bush in front’ while the hyenas prowl around the vehicles.
The hyenas begin walking off down the road, before one turns to retrace its steps and catches the leopard cub’s scent.
Footage shows a leopard cub running away from a sprinting hyena at the Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa
Unable to reach full speed due to its age, the young cub is very nearly caught by the hyena but manages to reach safety by clinging to a tree and running up it
Aware of what is about to happen, one of the people watching repeatedly says: ‘no. no, no’.
The lone hyena then starts walking quickly towards the bush where the leopard cub is hiding before chasing after it once the young animal appears.
Unable to reach full speed due to its age, the young cub is very nearly caught by the hyena but manages to reach safety by clinging to a tree and running up it.
The hyena is left at the bottom of the tree as the people watching cheer and clap the miraculous escape.
The hyena runs away and heads back towards the vehicles as the leopard cub continues climbing up the tree away from immediate danger.
Moosa, who filmed the dramatic chase on October 25, told LatestSightings: ‘We had just had an incredible sighting of a male leopard at the Nwaswitshaka waterhole and it was time for the dreaded drive to the gate which brings the end to the day.
‘We stopped on the S1 and there was a young leopard sitting in the dense bush.
‘We took some photos and videos and were just about to leave when I looked up and saw a clan of hyena approaching.
‘I knew that this situation may not end well for the leopard cub.
‘It was an emotional rollercoaster and I was extremely delighted to see the cub survive.’
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