It´s a cat, Rosemary, it´s a cat

[Wild Dogger]

 

These photos are part of probably the most strange and in retrospect the most agonizing behavior that we have ever seen in a predator.
It had rained that morning and the safari had been very uneventful.
Suddenly our guide heard nagging and shouting from monkeys in the bush.
Quickly the cause of the theater was identified:
this leopard got hold of a vervet monkey baby, probably the mother had "lost" it in the excitement - vervet monkeys carry their offspring under their bellies, the babys cling to their mother, as you all know.
Instead of killing the baby quickly, the cat played with him.
The cat occasionally let go of the little one, only to bully him again a short time later. She bit down just so hard that the monkey was not hurt. She took it in her mouth, as if she were transporting her own offspring.
The behaviour was very much like when a house cat catches a mouse.
The cat apparently used the tiny one as bait in the intention that one of the adults would become careless and start a "rescue operation".
We watched this spectacle for 30 minutes. None of the monkeys got cocky and we left the "crime scene", because we had to our bushflight.
The cat had not killed the monkey until then.






























 

 

[Atravelynn]

Absolutely fascinating and the bait theory makes sense.

[kittykat23uk]

Amazing sequence of shots. 

[offshorebirder]

Superb sequence @Wild Dogger.

[madaboutcheetah]

Superb @Wild Dogger - reminds me of the scene from the Joubert film from a few years ago!

[Towlersonsafari]

goodness @Wild Dogger what a fascinating-and difficult-watch!

[Wild Dogger]

@madaboutcheetah that´s what also came in my mind during the sighting

 

[madaboutcheetah]

18 hours ago, Wild Dogger said:

@madaboutcheetah that´s what also came in my mind during the sighting

 

 

What's the location please?

[Kitsafari]

fascinating and yet, such a tough thing to watch. 

[Wild Dogger]

4 hours ago, madaboutcheetah said:

 

What's the location please?

That was in Kwara

[Wild Dogger]

Story is now featured in Daily Mail online:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8387553/Cunning-leopard-uses-baby-monkey-BAIT-lure-adults-it.html?fbclid=IwAR04d0wFbOnkh9ml_WJEVh3ofaf9jljVEHkivN8XEmokg-cQ8CM5t8kjAkM#comments

[wilddog]

Congratulations @Wild Dogger

 

Did you ever hear about the ending of this visual story? 

[Wild Dogger]

@wilddog
no, I am sure the cat killed the little one in the end and the others stayed in the trees.