Over the past few months, we have seen a number of leopard sightings in the Western Cape.

Perhaps the pick of the lot was the sighting of a leopard and two cubs somewhere along the Garden Route, with the exact location withheld.

As much as many wanted to believe that these sightings had to do with humans being under lockdown (#wearethevirus #natureishealing), wildlife biologist Jeannie Hayward of the Cape Leopard Trust said this is not the case, and leopards being caught on motion sensor camera traps occurred year-round.

Whilst you’re unlikely to see one of these elusive Cape leopards yourself, in other parts of the country, the action can arrive at your doorstep.

Take for example the Soames family, and the video posted to Latest Sightings, which was filmed in the garden of their home in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate.

Even leopards can get a proper skrik, it seems:

According to Getaway, Gillian Leigh Soames said that they often have leopards visiting their garden (“at least twice a week”), and the pair in the video above are 11-month old cubs.

‘The flash you see is from the trail camera that we have up, in addition to an Infra Red Live Camera,’ Soames continues.

‘The flashes are completely invisible to the animals and the only reason you can see the flashes is because the Infra Red from the live camera picks it up.’

Soames is sometimes referred to as South Africa’s “leopard queen”, and the footage from the family property just keeps coming.

Just yesterday, she posted more videos showing four separate leopard sightings in four hours.

Tough not to be a little jealous, but enjoy the show, Gillian.

[source:getaway]