Black Leopard drinking water after fresh kill

The black leopard, mother of three fast growing cubs, had just killed a chital fawn in the torrential downpour that was lashing upon Dhikala, a few paces from where our vehicle stood in the great grasslands. The rains soon grew into a thunderstorm accompanied by a mighty shower of hail, as the mother leopard sought cover of the high grass. Once the rains subsided, she emerged from the chaur, soaked and drenched just like the whole expanse of her fabled kingdom.
Later that evening, she got her cubs to the kill and there was a mini-feast, but that’s a story for some other day! 🐅

Dhikala - Corbett, April 2021.