Overview
To hunt a leopard (Panthera pardus) is to face one of the world’s most alluring, evasive, clever, and difficult animals. Even though they’re the smallest of the “Big 5”, when injured they’re the deadliest.
Leopards would rather flee than fight, but once wounded they become aggressive. Leopards are the ideal predator since they are powerful and cunning hunters.
Unlike their Indian relatives, African leopards are not well feared as vicious man eaters. However, leopards are notorious killers in India and Africa, and they frequently come into combat with humans while preying on domestic animals, leading to fatalities on both sides.
The African leopard is considerably larger, heavier, and more robust than its Indian relative. They have a lighter spotted coat with more numerous tiny rosettes.
Leopards can outrun and kill humans in a single bound, and they sometimes do so for the simple pleasure of a nocturnal snack.
Leopards are incredibly strong for their size, as evidenced by the fact that they can haul their frequently heavy prey up into a tree to hide it, so if you are ever attacked by one, you may be assured that no one will come looking for you. The large felids populate a wide range of habitats in Africa and Asia.
With all this in mind, we will take a closer look at some of the dangers of leopard hunting, which can make for an exhilarating and unforgettable experience.
Why leopard hunting can be dangerous
· Leopards are extremely dangerous when wounded.
Leopards are incredibly resilient creatures that will keep fighting no matter how badly they are hurt. Leopards are known to become much more aggressive after being injured, and may even continue attacking their prey.
When injured, leopards become much more lethal. They wish to exact vengeance for the harm done to them. Leopards are swift, with sharp claws and teeth, and strong legs and powerful paws. They’re so skilled that capturing an antelope is a breeze for them.
· Leopards have superior vision at night.
Leopards are nocturnal and do their best hunting then. To avoid detection, they’ll spend the day dozing off in a secluded cave or tree.
Leopards are a dangerous predator due to their keen vision and the many benefits they enjoy when hunting at night. For practical reasons, they prefer to go on their hunts after dark.
Leopards are quiet hunters. They silently and stealthily track their target until they spot an opening, at which point they pounce.
· Leopards are unpredictable
Leopards have always been, and always will be, extremely unpredictable creatures. The leopard’s ability to surprise its prey is one of the factors that makes it such a lethal predator. Leopards’ erratic behaviour leaves both people and other creatures guessing.
Leopards’ unpredictability stems from the fact that they have not evolved any predictable patterns of behaviour. Leopards are notoriously unpredictable creatures, and they develop this propensity for unpredictability at an early age.
A lion’s behaviour can be anticipated, while a leopard’s cannot. Why? Because lion cubs are nurtured in a social environment, they acquire the skills necessary to interact with others and express their emotions.
Because they are more socially adept and have more experience communicating, lions outshine leopards in this area. Because of their erratic behaviour, leopards can be quite dangerous.
· Leopards are known to attack humans.
Leopards frequently attack and kill people, especially those who live in close proximity to their environment. Leopard attacks on humans can be triggered by a number of factors, including hunger and fear of having their territory or young disturbed.
When attacked by a leopard, there is no way to outrun it.
· Leopards are lightning fast.
Leopards are capable of speeds of up to 58 kilometres per hour, making them one of the fastest land predators despite being slightly slower than other large cats.
The leopard can outpace any human. Since a leopard can scale trees, these are not safe havens either. As such, a hunter should stand his or her ground when attacked by a leopard. Since they don’t have a natural predator, they won’t know whether or not you pose a threat to them.
How to safely hunt leopard
In general, it’s not a good idea to follow a wounded cat, especially at night, but it’s not always possible to avoid doing so. If you wait until morning to investigate, you may find a leopard that has been badly mauled by hyenas.
A.375 calibre firearm is the legal bare minimum for hunting leopards. Nonetheless, the best weapon to deploy in a follow-up attack on a wounded Leopard is still up for debate. Some shooters choose buckshot shotguns, while others favour heavy calibre firearms.
The follow-up phase requires the utmost caution. The leopard is the master of disguise and stealth; it may appear out of nowhere and charge without giving any indication that it is about to do so, in contrast to the more obvious lion.
It’s best to have trained specialists handle follow-ups, and even a seasoned hunter should seek assistance from other hunters whenever feasible.
Clients may be employed as backup if they remain in close proximity to the professional hunter and maintain composure; however, clients who lose their composure during these encounters are best off remaining in the hunting van.
For more information on Leopard Hunt contact Hunt24.co.za
