Watch: Leopard enjoys rare daytime stroll near Wellington
A big cat was captured on camera on a private farm in the Western Cape, offering a striking glimpse of one of South Africa’s most elusive predators.
A majestic male leopard, moving with the confidence of a king eyeing his kingdom, was caught on camera in a rare daytime sighting near Wellington in the Western Cape.
The big cat was photographed by a trail camera on a farm on Sunday (June 21) just before sunset.
As leopards are primarily nocturnal, such encounters are uncommon, says Eduanne Niemand (52) who published the video on his Facebook page yesterday (June 24).
Since then, the video has gone viral, reaching more than 24 000 people within just a few hours.
In the video, Niemand, who is also a wildlife content creator, can be heard providing an Afrikaans voice-over.
“The leopard looks out over Paarl, and when he gazes further into the distance, he is looking in the direction of Wellington. Can you guess where he was spotted on Sunday evening?”
The video shows how the big cat stands there calmly, completely at ease.
The leopard faces the camera, revealing his striking eyes and whiskers. Niemand adds: “Just look at that face.”
Commenters tried to guess where the footage was taken. Some suggested Bainskloof, others pointed to a wine farm in Franschhoek, while a few even thought it was near Pniel.
Niemand, however, refused to reveal the exact location.
“We are afraid that he could become a target for poachers. Unfortunately, human beings remain the biggest threat to the survival of these animals. I can say that he is on a private farm and, according to the farmer, there are a few of them. He is very happy to have them and will protect them with all his might.”
Only around 11 000 leopards left
According to the African Wildlife Foundation, leopards are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (an indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity), meaning they face a significant risk of extinction in the wild. Although they are highly adaptable, leopard populations have declined sharply across Africa and Asia due to habitat loss, poaching, the bushmeat trade and growing human-wildlife conflict.
It is estimated that around 11 000 leopards remain in South Africa. However, the foundation notes that accurate tracking is difficult, as leopards are naturally shy and are rarely seen in broad daylight. A study published earlier this year estimated that only about 600 leopards remain in the Western Cape.
“I am making a living out of controlling pests, but unfortunately, I cannot simply ‘pest away’ human beings who set snares for these animals,” Niemand said.
Some commenters on the video said they would love to see a leopard in the wild but admitted they would be nervous about coming face to face with such a predator.
“I think leopards are more afraid of humans than we are of them. Sometimes cyclists come across leopards on the Bainskloof Pass, but most often the leopard moves away first. They are unlikely to attack humans unless they feel threatened.”