Arabian Leopard. Today I got bitten by one

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This is not a hunting report

Arabian Leopard? How could it be?

Some older members of Africahunting may recall my obsession with Ingwe

Ingwe

I wasn't sure where to post this so dropped it in here. Stuck in the Middle East waiting to get home for Christmas. The telly was rubbish (as usual) so I put a little fictional story together. It is somewhat derivative. How can it not be when you love reading Corbett, Hemingway and Capstick...

www.africahunting.com

Yes indeed, this very day I was bitten by a Leopard

An Arabian Leopard

And I was happy about it too !

As many of you will know I spend some of the year working in the Middle East
Today I met with a couple of my clients who are Vets.
(Excuse me for "Operational security" (Opsec) with what follows

At the end of the meeting "Ade, before you go there is something I want to show you{"

He left the room and came back with a "spotted cat"
"Is this what I think it is?" Says I, wondering
"Yes" he said

It was an Arabian Leopard. Four weeks old. About as big as a domestic cat.

"Can I hold it " says I

"Yes sure" Wow

It climbed all over me tried to eat my fingers, thumbs ,hands, ears and what ever else it could.
It wanted to chew meat.

Fantastic
Sharp teeth but no damage. Still probably exploring meat and not wishing to chew-off it's mother's teats
It is the outcome, finally, of a captive breeding program here.
This is the first captive-bread Leopard to be born in 21 years

There are only about 180 Arabian Leopards globally and less that 75 in the wild.

Qatari and UAE wankers, will pay millions (chose your currency) to have one as a "Pet"

This particular Leopard kitten had been rejected by his mother so will, will of course not be released and remain in the breeding programme. Currently fed every 3 hours with substitute cat-milk.
It had a fat little belly. Seems living in a Villa is good

I wanted to share this as it was incredible and even if only vicariously hope you feel the same way

I did ask if a picture was appropriate (already knowing the answer of course, but had to try) so cannot provide.
If only I could.

Black market for this fellow is in excess of £ 300,000. Hence the serious caution,

I am still buzzing about this encounter 4 hours later.

I will see it again in a month but may be more circumspect before I give it a cuddle.

It will never be released to the wild as it will have no fear of humans , which is of course more of an issue for the cat than humans so e will enter the captive breeding programme.
I wish him luck with his shagging

Aye

Ade


Ade

 

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Here is a wild one in the same Country

 

[spike.t]

Neat what a great experience...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Striking color pattern, even for a leopard. Thanks for sharing.

 

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Eyes only for us on here please. No reposts please. This one is on trust.
( Don't let me down)
Here she is a few weeks ago. Just look at the size of those pads
in relation to her body. She is now 3 months old and pretty feisty, I have some fresh "play-bite" scars to prove it!
She is playing and knows it is play but soon even "play" moves up a few gears big time.
She is currently getting prepped (a few hours a day) for a decent sized pen in the breeding program. As she will have no fear of humans she cannot be released. Less than 20% born are females (based on the scant knowledge) so she is extra special. Her Dam has a history of eating cubs along with the after-birth, hence this one being hand reared from the outset.
A feisty girl!
I wish her luck and many off-spring.