Here is why the leopard visited the cow at night: it surprised even the animal protectors

A few years ago, something very peculiar happened with a Pakistani farmer. One of his cows was visited by a leopard at night; the two animals spent the evenings in intimate proximity, cuddling and snuggling together. It was clear that the leopard was not aggressive, and the cow was not afraid. What could have caused the big cat to choose this particular animal, and why did none of their encounters result in bloodshed?

Next, we will delve into the fate of the leopard and the cow, as well as discuss from a scientific perspective what might explain this phenomenon.

A Romance Between a Leopard and a Cow

For millions of years, the relationship between predators and prey has been based on a single, extremely simple pattern: the former chase, the latter flee. So, it’s no wonder that we raise our eyebrows when we observe behavior deviating from this norm, and immediately ponder about the underlying motivations. This is no different in the case of the leopard and the cow.

The incident can be dated back to 2001 in the Vadodara district of Gujarat, in a small village involving a 1-year-old leopard and a 3-year-old cow. Villagers often spotted the animal lurking around the vicinity of the settlement, sometimes even venturing into the village streets. This wouldn’t have been unusual as big cats are occasionally encountered in that area. It never attacked humans, but occasionally injured dogs and preyed on livestock. It later became apparent that the spotted predator always headed to a specific place. The property of the village’s foremost inhabitant. The visits became so regular that the locals began to worry; they feared the big cat might eventually attack them.

Since hunting leopards is prohibited, they reached out to a local organization capable of capturing the animal and releasing it within the reserve’s territory. When the organization’s staff arrived at the scene and began monitoring, they couldn’t believe their eyes. The leopard was spending the nights in peace and love with a single cow. They rubbed against each other and played. The cat purred, and the cow licked and groomed the cat; they bore witness to a true idyll. Nevertheless, the locals insisted on transporting the cat to the reserve.

A Heartbreaking End to a Peculiar Relationship

As preparations began to capture the animal, it sensed the danger and no longer approached the village. Except for one occasion. A single last encounter months later. The leopard leaped over the massive fence, found its companion. He lay down beside it, and they enjoyed each other’s company in perfect tranquility for the last time, albeit briefly. Then, no one saw the king of the forest ever again.

Scientists who study big cats have an explanation for this peculiar relationship. They believe that the leopard cub might have lost its mother at a very young age. It’s conceivable that hunger led it to the outskirts of the village, where it could have encountered the cow. For the cow, the tiny cub didn’t pose a threat, so it allowed the leopard to approach and, driven by instincts, began to suckle. As the cow began to nurture the cat, maternal instincts might have awakened, and a mother-child bond could have formed between them. This bond remained intact despite the cub growing into a dangerous large predator for its species after a few months. To each other, they remained mother and child.