14 DAY TRIAL // The scene pictured above was recently caught on camera in South Africa's Krueger National Park by ranger Chad Cocking.
By the looks of it, the leopard featured in it was quite desperate to get some TLC. Hence its cuddling with an impala.
Needless to say, those who had the chance to witness the episode were pretty much left speechless by the big cat's peculiar behavior and its deciding to snuggle with the impala rather that feast on it as soon as possible.
Still, it appears that the leopard's predatory instincts finally kicked in, and the impala switched from being its friend to being its meal.
“This was clearly far more of a game for the leopard than it was for the impala - but some moments could almost have been misinterpreted as bonding between the two,” ranger Chad Cocking told the press.