O n a sweltering afternoon in Botswana’s Okavango Delta a herd of impalas grazes on lush grass in the shade of an ebony tree In the branches high above baboons feed on berries dropping some to the ground where the impalas snatch them up Nearby hidden in the tall grass a leopard slowly inches closer to the herd The leopard’s gaze drifts from one impala to the next until at last the big cat selects its target a young impala that has wandered away ANTELOPES 7
from its mother Suddenly the leopard explodes from the grass toward its prey The impalas scatter screeching loudly in alarm The baboons cry out and shake the tree branches causing the startled leopard to leap short of its prey Catching only a glancing blow from the leopard’s paw the young impala escapes for now The leopard slinks back into the grass It will follow the impalas and try for another meal when they regroup 8 LIVING WILD
