‘We were slowly heading back towards our lodge after an early morning game drive, when we came upon a large troop of baboons.’ Paul Wood told LatestSightings.com about this incredible sighting in Pilanesberg National Park.
While driving along Moloto Road in the Park, they came across the troop and gradually made their way past them; ‘ As we came around a bend in the road, we all saw what turned out to be the very last member of the troop, a young adult male baboon, and he was visibly clutching something small under his belly with one arm. At this point, the baboon was only 10 m or so in front of our vehicle.’
‘Within seconds, and with all eyes on him, he juggled what he was carrying and we all gasped as it was clearly a tiny leopard cub. The initial reaction from myself, and the guide, was that the cub was surely already dead and the baboon had simply picked it up while foraging, or, perhaps, had even been involved in its death. However, after a few more seconds, it was obvious that the cub was very much alive!’
After watching the baboon for some time, Paul said that ‘it was clear that the baboon was very interested in the cub and was intent on taking it along with him. He would sit quietly with it, occasionally looking down to check on it, and even groomed the cub as we watched’
‘Not long after leaving the road the baboon disappeared over a small ridge, down an embankment, and moved quickly out of sight’ Paul concluded.
‘It was an incredible sighting, but bitter-sweet for all of us watching, because we knew the cub would not be able to survive more than just a few hours away from its mom.’
Featured image: Screenshot
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