Leopard Growling in a South Devon wood.
On the afternoon of September the 23rd 2024 I returned to a wood in South Devon where I saw a black leopard on the 12th of August in 2021 and near to where I spotted it running through my night vision viewer on another occasion. As I entered the wood, it began to rain lightly but I was sheltered from the rain by the dense tree canopy above. I spent a few minutes scouring the wood for scats, footprints and claw marks on trees, making sure I kept looking around me in case the leopard was nearby in its woodland domain.
After a while the rain became heavier and as it did so I heard a sound, it was the leopard growling nearby in the undergrowth! I stood still, transfixed by the sound and It became louder as the animal drew nearer and the growling was crystal clear! In all, I heard at least eight growls and then as I reached for my camera to record them and turned it on, there was silence! I felt no sense of menace, just peace. The wood was still and quiet once more and after a few minutes and as the rain became even heavier, I left that secret princedom with its hidden black prince ruling alone, but under the authority of his creator. One day I plan to return.
After a while the rain became heavier and as it did so I heard a sound, it was the leopard growling nearby in the undergrowth! I stood still, transfixed by the sound and It became louder as the animal drew nearer and the growling was crystal clear! In all, I heard at least eight growls and then as I reached for my camera to record them and turned it on, there was silence! I felt no sense of menace, just peace. The wood was still and quiet once more and after a few minutes and as the rain became even heavier, I left that secret princedom with its hidden black prince ruling alone, but under the authority of his creator. One day I plan to return.
