Although a monitor lizard may appear to be easy prey for a leopard, these reptiles are well-equipped to ғɪɢʜᴛ back thanks to their strong limbs, whip-like tails, and claws that virtually match those of the Velocirator. Costa Frangeskides recently had the good fortune to film a water monitor in full tail-swinging defense mode as it attempted to fend off an opportunistic leopard ready for a meal while on safari in Zᴀᴍʙɪᴀ.

Frangeskides noticed a monitor lizard strolling down the road while on a morning wildlife drive in central Zᴀᴍʙɪᴀ, followed by two leopards on the ʜᴜɴᴛ. He said that he could see that two leopards were intently trying to scavenge a piece of the monitor. The lizard went on the defensive when one of the leopards moved forward.

Water monitors are mostly aquatic, as suggested by their popular name, and when ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋed, they often run for cover in a river or dam. However, a watery escape was out of the question for this unfortunate reptile, thus the monitor was compelled to engage in combat.

Water monitors, sometimes known as Nile monitors, would bravely engage an ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋer, puffing up their bodies and swinging their large tails to fend them off. They are armed with razor-sharp claws and teeth that, if that tactic fails, can cause significant harm if an assailant is too sloppy in its approach. However, this leopard appeared up to the challenge, and after taking a few fierce tail-strikes, the cat was able to rip into the lizard’s neck with its teeth.

Let’s watch the video:

Source: https://dailylifeworld.com