Photographer Captures the Second Leopard Stumbles Throughout a Dung Beetle

A wildlife photographer in South Africa captured a uncommon encounter between two of probably the most unlikely creatures: a dung beetle and a leopard.

According to The Dodo, Nick Kleer was on safari within the Mala Mala Game Reserve when he caught sight of a dung beetle doing what the little insect does: rolling a ball of dung round.

As he filmed the beetle going about its soiled enterprise, Kleer occurred to note a leopard standing close by, which was additionally watching the scarab curler. The naturally curious feline quickly wandered over to count on the industrious insect.

As it units its huge paw down subsequent to the beetle, the leopard lowered its head for an almighty sniff; one thing it appeared to remorse because the leopard appeared to tug a face afterward as if to say, “gross.”

“Luckily for the beetle, one sniff was all it took for the leopard to realize it wasn’t a very appetizing treat,” provides Latest Sigthings – Kruger, on Facebook.

“A cat doing cat things, regardless of species,” writes certainly one of Kleer’s Instagram followers. “This should win a prize. Surely one of the most unique videos ever,” provides one other.

The leopard’s inquisitive nature was completely captured by Kleer. The Dodo notes that his pictures serves to shine a light-weight on Africa’s leopards which have “suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting,” in accordance to the World Land Trust.

However, reserves like Mala Mala are a protected house for leopards — and dung beetles — to roam freely. The photographer, Kleer, grew up in South Africa and, in accordance to his website, spent “just about every school holiday” exploring Kruger National Park and different recreation reserves throughout Southern Africa together with his household.

“One of my most vivid memories from those trips was spotting my first leopard when I was just six years old. From that moment, I was hooked on big cats, and after university (and a short stint in a suit and tie), I quickly realized that my heart belonged in the wild, not in an office,” Kleer provides.

More of Kleer’s work will be discovered on his Instagram.

Image credit: Header photograph licensed by way of Depositphotos.