A leopard mum wasn't happy about being trapped up a tree by a lion - so she pooped on it, twice.
The animal had been enjoying an impala kill among the leaves in Kenya's Naboisho Conservancy.
But it soon attracted the attentions of hungry lions, jackals and hyenas - with the big cats even attempting to climb up the tree.
Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein, who was guiding a group, documented the scene, along with guest Laura Galbraith.
Paul explains: "The impala kill was up a boscia tree 12 mins from our Kicheche Valley Camp.
"Both the leopard mother, who is called Spot, and her year old boy had been dining in the late sunshine the evening before.
"The next morning, both animals were feeding and descended in the false dawn. But, once the mother returned to her elevated restaurant for some more venison carpaccio, she was spotted by a pair of jackals who immediately started keening. This is a high decibel call and in due course it attracted hyenas, maddened by the scent up the tree which hey could not climb.
"Before long three large sub-adult lions appeared. They can climb, but poorly, being heavy and cumbersome, but one still tried to a cacophonous chorus from the silver-backed terrier-like jackals.
"The leopard boy had hidden in the nearby croton bushes but the mother was marooned up the boscia and retreated to the crown to get as far away from the far bigger predator. All these adversaries are mortal enemies.
"As the lion dropped unceremoniously from the trunk the leopard actually defecated on it. Twice!
"The moment the lions and hyenas retreated enough the spotted cat descended and darted off toward her boy, pursued relentlessly by the jackals. Later that afternoon we found them both asleep.
"The whole episode lasted around forty minutes and was done before 7.45am, early, just as nature intended."
Paul Goldstein co-owns Kicheche - four eco camps in four separate Kenyan Conservancies and is a very outspoken conservationist and defender of endangered species.
The animal had been enjoying an impala kill among the leaves in Kenya's Naboisho Conservancy.
But it soon attracted the attentions of hungry lions, jackals and hyenas - with the big cats even attempting to climb up the tree.
Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein, who was guiding a group, documented the scene, along with guest Laura Galbraith.
Paul explains: "The impala kill was up a boscia tree 12 mins from our Kicheche Valley Camp.
"Both the leopard mother, who is called Spot, and her year old boy had been dining in the late sunshine the evening before.
"The next morning, both animals were feeding and descended in the false dawn. But, once the mother returned to her elevated restaurant for some more venison carpaccio, she was spotted by a pair of jackals who immediately started keening. This is a high decibel call and in due course it attracted hyenas, maddened by the scent up the tree which hey could not climb.
"Before long three large sub-adult lions appeared. They can climb, but poorly, being heavy and cumbersome, but one still tried to a cacophonous chorus from the silver-backed terrier-like jackals.
"The leopard boy had hidden in the nearby croton bushes but the mother was marooned up the boscia and retreated to the crown to get as far away from the far bigger predator. All these adversaries are mortal enemies.
"As the lion dropped unceremoniously from the trunk the leopard actually defecated on it. Twice!
"The moment the lions and hyenas retreated enough the spotted cat descended and darted off toward her boy, pursued relentlessly by the jackals. Later that afternoon we found them both asleep.
"The whole episode lasted around forty minutes and was done before 7.45am, early, just as nature intended."
Paul Goldstein co-owns Kicheche - four eco camps in four separate Kenyan Conservancies and is a very outspoken conservationist and defender of endangered species.
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