A rescue leopard at South Africa’s Harnas Wildlife Foundation is an impressive leaper, especially at mealtime.
The accompanying footage, which has garnered millions of views over the past month, shows “Hellboy” leaping nearly 10 feet to catch a hunk of meat tossed over a fence by a caretaker.
“Hellboy in action, slow motion. Absolutely stunning.” The foundation wrote on Facebook.
The footage reveals the power and grace exhibited by Hellboy – and possessed by all leopards – while taking flight and upon landing. (Best viewed with sound.)
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Reads one of the more popular comments: “My favorite of all animals, agile, solitary, silent, adaptive and cunning. I call it the ultimate hunter.”
The Harnas Wildlife Foundation, originally a cattle farm, is a sanctuary for animals in need of care and rehabilitation.
The Namibia facility told FTW Outdoors that Hellboy arrived as a cub after farmers shot his mom in 2011 “as a result of humans-versus-wildlife conflict where farmers retaliate against leopards preying on their livestock.”
Harnas added: “The mom was shot but she had a cub and so the cub came to us. He is to say the least quite a character and an amazing looking leopard.”
Sadly, Helloboy is not a candidate for release because he was hand raised and has lost his fear of humans.“And as such he might come into conflict with farmers,” Harnas stated.
