Watch a Zebra Exact Revenge on a Menacing Leopard That Snatched Its Calf

Key Points:

• Unlike lions who hunt together in pride, the leopard prefers to hunt alone.
• Zebras have a deadly kick with enough force that can take down a male lion in one swift kick. 
• The leopard knows the baby is the only kill he can accomplish and take down alone. 

An adult leopard is lying close to the water, seeming to enjoy the shaded spot he has found and lying in wait for any other animals that may be coming to get some hydration. At the video’s start, as seen below, the leopard immediately notices a mother zebra and her baby coming down the slope. 

The mother zebra noticed the leopard as they neared the hill’s end. But it is too late. She knows they cannot run back uphill in enough time to escape the claws of this predator. She knows their only chance at survival is to try to dash for the water in hopes the leopard won’t follow. 

But, there is no such luck. The leopard has already locked in on getting an easy meal. The leopard pounces after them in the water and immediately goes after the easiest kill, the baby. 

Check Out the Video Below!

Once the leopard has grabbed hold of the baby’s neck, he carries it back to the bank of the water. The mother zebra is seen in close pursuit to save her baby from the jaws of the leopard looking for a meal. 

The zebra catches up quickly and head-stomps the leopard. She then goes for her baby to try and nudge the baby out of the leopard’s grip. But he won’t let go. In a last attempt to save her young one, she kicks the leopard with her hind legs. This does nothing, and he gets up on all fours on dry land. 

He goes in for the official kill, breaking the baby zebra’s neck. The mother zebra knows now that there is nothing she can do. You can hear the sounds of a heartbroken mother as she runs off. 

How Strong Is a Zebra’s Kick?

A zebra is one of the strongest animals on the planet. When we think of strong animals, it is easy to think of some of the largest animals out there. However, the zebra is actually listed along with those iconic animals such as the crocodile, anaconda, and grizzly bear. 

Places in Africa have easily labeled a zebra as having a deadly kick. Because when they turn around and use their hind legs, it means a sure and certain death. Their 3,000 pounds of force are enough to take down a male lion in one swift kick. 

In the instance of this video, the mother zebra did not have the traction she needed being in the water to let the leopard feel the full brunt of her kick. 

What Do Leopards Eat?

Unlike lions who hunt together in pride, the leopard prefers to hunt alone. Because of this, they have to be picky in choosing what they hunt for. They don’t have the strength of other leopards at their disposal to take down a large animal. So, the leopard has to settle for what they can take down alone. 

As carnivores, they often hunt and eat various small to mid-sized animals. This can be anything from a small rat up to a mid-sized jackal. They are always confident and patient to wait for an animal they know they can take down. 

This is why in the video above, the leopard knows he cannot take down the mother zebra. The baby is the only kill he can accomplish and take down alone. 

How Large Are Zebras?

When most people think about zebra size, they may think they are the same size as a horse, but this is untrue. Most zebras are smaller than horses. The average size of a zebra is 3.8 feet to 5.25 feet tall, and they stretch up to 9 feet inches long. Their weight varies, but it ranges from 776 to 948 pounds. Foals weigh 60 to 80 pounds. They are usually 18-25 inches long. After one year, young zebras have become independent. They reach maturation from three to six years old.