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22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Leopard chasing squirrel

While we were on one of our afternoon game drive in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park we came across a young leopard lying in the shadow of a tree fast asleep. We park next to it and waited. After a while the leopard lifted its head and looked into the nearby bushes. All of sudden the leopard stood up and started stocking something in the bushed. After a few minutes the leopard disappeared into the bushed. Just to re-appear in a flash and chasing a ground squirrel. The action was so quick, it was not possible for me to get a proper composition. After a short chase the squirrel made it to safety into its burrow about 50meters away – to the very disappointment of the leopard.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2024
Photo Location: South Africa
Camera: ILCE-1
Copyright: © Willem Kruger