Sheena, appeared to be afraid of the daring mouse and kept her distance.
Pictures don't lie!!!
Posted on 06/04/2009 6:38:52 AM PDT by rawhide
This mouse diced with death when it tucked into the lunch of a hungry leopard.
Seemingly unaware of the beast towering over it, the mischievous rodent grabbed at scraps of meat thrown into the African Leopard's enclosure.
But instead of pouncing on the the tiny intruder the 12-year-old leopard, called Sheena, appeared to be afraid of the daring mouse and kept her distance.
At one stage she tried to nudge the mouse away with her nose, but the determined little chap carried on chewing away until he was full.
The extraordinary scene was captured by photography student Casey Gutteridge at the Santago Rare Leopard Project in Hertfordshire.
The 19-year-old, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, who was photographing the leopard for a course project, was astounded by the mouse's behaviour.
He said: 'I have no idea where the mouse came from - he just appeared in the enclosure after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard.
'He didn't take any notice of the leopard, just went straight over to the meat and started feeding himself.
'But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed the mouse and flinched a bit like she was scared.
'In the meantime the mouse just carried on eating like nothing had happened.
'It was amazing, even the keeper who had thrown the meat into the enclosure was shocked - he said he'd never seen anything like it before.'
Project owner Jackie James added: 'It was so funny to see - Sheena batted the mouse a couple of times to try to get it away from her food.
'But the determined little thing took no notice and just carried on.'
Sheena was brought in to the Santago Rare Leopard Project from a UK zoo when she was just four months old.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It looks too big to be a mouse and it’s tail looks like a rat’s tail.
Even so, cute stuff.
Sheena, appeared to be afraid of the daring mouse and kept her distance.
Pictures don't lie!!!
Given the choice between eating pure cubes of fresh raw prime meat and a dirty rodent, bones, fur and all, which do you think this partially domesticated animal would prefer?
ping
ping
The big kitty might also be appreciative of a ‘nose-on’ friend.
"The extraordinary scene was captured by photography student Casey Gutteridge..."
This talented young man should get an A+ for the quality of these great photos.
I dunno - I’ve seen some pretty mean hamsters.
Gee, do you think the hamster really did it? Observe my shocked expression: <8-O
bttt
This talented young man should get an A+ for the quality of these great photos.
I agree. Extraordinary quality photos.
It's a little early to tell - he's not saying anything.
They will multiply if we don't stop them now. If well fed, they produce larger and more frequent litters. DemonRAT control.
Wow. The mouse that ROARED.
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