Spot of bother: Leopard cub runs for its life from hungry hyena before scrambling up a tree to escape
- The footage was captured at Kruger National Park in South Africa
- Safari party 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
This is the dramatic moment a leopard cub narrowly escaped a hungry hyena after managing to scramble up a tree.
Moosa Varachia, a 30-year-old part-time photographic guide, filmed the nail-biting chase in Kruger National Park, South Africa, on October 25.
The eleven-month-old leopard cub was spotted by a safari party hiding under a bush while its mother had gone hunting for food.
In the clip one of the group can be heard saying ‘there’s a leopard in the first bush in front’ as a pack of four hyenas appear and prowl around their vehicles.
The hyenas begin walking off down the road, before one turns to retrace its steps and catches the leopard cub’s scent.
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. As the young animal suddenly breaks cover it sets off in close pursuit.
Footage shows a leopard cub running away from a sprinting hyena in 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
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 leaping at tree trunk and managing to climb out of reach.
The hyena is left at the bottom of the tree as the people watching cheer and clap the dramatic escape.
The hyena runs away and heads back towards the vehicles as the leopard cub continues climbing up the tree away from immediate danger.
A pack of four hyenas appeared close to vehicles carrying tourists on a safari, shortly after people had spotted the leopard cub hiding under a bush
One hyena turned away from the rest of the pack, retraced its steps and caught the scent of the leopard cub
Moosa, who filmed the dramatic chase, 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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