This is Tyson, a male leopard and one of the last animals we saw on our South African safari. We only took headshots of him but immediately, you can see that he's stockier and more powerfully built than Safari, the female leopard that I showed photos of a few weeks back. Tyson, earning his name, probably weighs around 80kg or so.
And yet while we watched, he pulled off a languid stretch that made him look for all the world like a giant house cat - paws outstretched, maw agape and back arched in a graceful curve.
As he walked off, he marked his territory with a scent gland on his rump. I'm told that leopard scent markings smell rather a lot like popcorn, leading our guide to advise us, "If you smell popcorn during the drive, please tell us and stay inside the jeep."
Life Science
Comments
Great photos! Great information. I watched,"Jaws," when I was 14. I was scared swimming in a midwestern lake the whole summer. If I smell popcorn in the woods in Illinois, do you suppose I'll be safe?
Posted by: Mike Olson | November 14, 2009 2:44 PM
What a lovely cat
Posted by: Marc aurel | November 14, 2009 4:35 PM
Looks like he is sizing you up in the 2nd picture.
Posted by: Dennis | November 14, 2009 9:45 PM
And Tiger scent marks smell like freshly cooked Basmati rice! At least to my nose...
Posted by: Madhu | November 15, 2009 4:21 PM
Huh. How come domesticated cats don't mark their territory with something that smells nice?
Posted by: Kim Hannula | November 15, 2009 6:42 PM
Scent of a Whale: Morbid halitosis, perhaps from the krill that they eat and their teeth which go unbrushed.
Posted by: OftenWrongTed | November 15, 2009 11:00 PM