How a Leopard Mother Uses Elephant Noise to Stalk Monkeys in the Treetops

Nature · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Lediba the leopard is a mother on a mission. With a hungry cub waiting, she turns to an unconventional hunting strategy: scaling high trees to pursue vervet monkeys. By masking her movements with the noise of nearby elephants, she demonstrates the kind of agility and tactical intelligence that defines big cats.

In the Okavango Delta, the leopard Lediba faces the constant pressure of providing for her cub. When traditional prey proves elusive, she adapts her hunting behavior, moving away from ground-level targets to pursue vervet monkeys high in the canopy. This shift in strategy is not merely a matter of opportunity; it requires exceptional physical prowess and a sophisticated understanding of her environment to succeed.

During her hunt, Lediba exhibits remarkable agility, leaping between branches in tall clusters of trees. Her approach is calculated, as she appears to leverage the ambient noise created by elephants to mask her presence. By timing her movements with the sounds of these larger animals, she effectively stalks her prey, minimizing the chance of being detected before she can launch an attack.

While leopards are known for their strength and predatory skills, their dietary needs are significant. Research into these animals reveals that a leopard can consume over 10 pounds of meat in a single day. This high caloric requirement explains the desperation Lediba feels when she has not yet secured a kill large enough to share with her offspring, driving her to take risks in the treetops that are outside her typical hunting patterns.

The behavior observed in Lediba highlights the complex interplay between predator and prey in the savannah. It is a testament to the adaptability of big cats, which must constantly refine their tactics to survive in a competitive ecosystem. Whether stalking through the brush or navigating the vertical world of the canopy, the leopard remains one of the most versatile and formidable hunters in the wild.

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