Feeling Prickly! Leopard Loses Battle With Persistent Porcupine

The mighty predator was put in its place after the spiky rodent refused to back down during a fight.

Wildlife enthusiast Lisl Moolman, 41, took the images in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

The amusing pictures, which were shot in 2012 but have just come to light, shows the sharp skirmish with the spotted cat.

She had been driving along the road when she saw the leopard dart across.

Minutes later the leopard and porcupine tumbled out of the bushes and began to fight.

Concern for the porcupine - armed with sharp quills - soon faded as it put on an aggressive show and proved more than a match for the confused leopard.

Lisl said: “The porcupine was a worthy opponent. It was quite aggressive and shaking its quills, raising them to appear larger. The leopard was certainly inexperienced.

“In such a situation one always expect the worst, but the porcupine put up such a fight that the leopard didn't stand a chance.”

Lisl stayed with the battling creatures for twenty minutes before the leopard gave up and walked off to lick its wound on its front leg.

She added: “This is the first time I saw anything like this and I've been visiting Kruger and other parks since I was a baby.”