Incredible Footage Captures Leopard’s Ambush on Antelope in Kenyan Reserve
Photographer Bhargava Srivari, aged 29, seized a jaw-dropping moment when he documented a leopard hunting and pouncing on its prey during his visit to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in November.
The stunning photographs capture the majestic beast in mid-pounce, engaging in a dramatic wrestle with the unsuspecting antelope. Ultimately, the antelope succumbs to the relentless pursuit of the powerful big cat.
Witnessing a leopard hunting an antelope is an exceedingly rare occurrence and is often considered the stuff of dreams. Bhargava, enthralled by the opportunity, explained, “Seeing a leopard in the wild is quite rare in itself, and seeing one hunting down an antelope is stuff made of dreams. So when I got an opportunity to witness it, I didn’t miss the chance.”
Recognizing the hunger in the leopard’s eyes, Bhargava dedicated several hours to observing the big cat in anticipation of capturing this unique moment on film. “We spotted the leopard and noticed it was hungry, so we knew it would try to make a kill and hence spent a few hours with it. I felt incredibly lucky witnessing this rare event,” he shared.
Describing the thrilling encounter between the two animals, Bhargava noted, “There was no chase initially because the leopard was hiding in the grass in front of the antelope, so all the leopard had to do was leap up and grab the face of the antelope when it walked close enough to the waiting leopard.”