Nimble rabbit cheats death by inches after it escapes a hungry leopard by dodging through bushes

Hop it! Nimble rabbit cheats death by inches after it escapes a hungry leopard by dodging through bushes

  • Leopard waits patiently as he watches a rabbit sitting in the grass in Sri Lanka
  • It pounces and the rabbit runs around some bushes in Yala National Park
  • The rabbit runs through them and the leopard watches it get away 

A nimble rabbit cheated death by inches after it escaped a hungry leopard by dodging through bushes. 

The leopard waited patiently while watching a rabbit sitting in the grass at the Yala National Park in southeast Sri Lanka.  

It fidgeted as it prepared to pounce and the rabbit continued cluelessly eating the grass. 

The leopard chased the rabbit in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, after pouncing on it

The leopard pounced at the rabbit who evaded it by running behind a group of bushes and then through them. 

The rabbit emerged from the other side and the leopard stopped and watched it get away in the incident which happened on July 9 last year.  

Yala National Park is the second-largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is 378 square miles and was made a park in March 1938. It was originally a sanctuary from 1900. 

The predator patiently watched the rabbit who was sitting and eating the grass in the park

The predator patiently watched the rabbit who was sitting and eating the grass in the park

It lunged towards the rabbit as the rabbit remained still for just a second before making a run for it

It lunged towards the rabbit as the rabbit remained still for just a second before making a run for it

It is home to leopards as well as crocodiles, elephants and 215 species of birds.  

Yala is a combination of a nature reserve and a national park, with five blocks of land. 

Leopards can run quickly and can reach speeds of 36mph. They can also leap 6m through the air, according to National Geographic.   

As the leopard reached the rabbit's spot, the rabbit leapt into the air before running away

As the leopard reached the rabbit’s spot, the rabbit leapt into the air before running away

The leopard continuesd chasing the rabbit who evaded it by running into the bushes

The leopard continuesd chasing the rabbit who evaded it by running into the bushes