Yeah, the Museum of Natural History has awesome dinosaurs and scary cavemen and huge whales, but I was struck by its irresponsible and perhaps dangerous depiction of the African leopard. Here it rests daintily on a tree branch, contemplating the circle of life and smiling at the crowds of people who watch from below. This is not right. Leopards do not like crowds. Here is how I know.
We were on safari in Uganda, riding through the park in the back of a Land Rover. Signs everywhere warned, "Do not leave road! Dangerous animals!" Our guide, a nice park ranger, did not obey the signs. She spotted a leopard in a tree and immediately pulled the car off the road and toward the animal. As we got closer, the beast grew more uneasy. He slowly and smoothly pushed himself up on his paws, and soon he was perched on the branch and ready to pounce. There we were, staring up at the leopard from the open sun roof, inviting him into our car. He looked at us with disgust and embarrassment. Not our brightest move.
We escaped before he struck, but I knew we were lucky.
("He's right there!!")
("I'm sorry, do you idiots need anything?")
(Getting ready to pounce.)
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1 comment:
That's a good thing to know, Linds! Glad I can learn from you! :)
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