This hungry leopard got more than he bargained for after trying to pounce on a porcupine and ended up with a face full of prickly quills.
The big cat looked like he was about to vomit as he tried to remove the sharp quills from his face after starting a fight with the wrong animal.
Photographer Helgard de Villiers captured the scene while photographing the animals in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Ouch: This leopard looked like he was about to throw up as he tried to remove the pointy quills from his face after fighting a porcupine.
Painful: Helgard de Villiers said leopard ‘definitely came second’ after fight
Stickleback: Leopard came in second after ‘big fight’ with angry porcupine in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
He said the two animals became involved in a “big fight” behind some bushes before the leopard emerged licking its wounds.
“I saw the leopard approaching through the bush and noticed that it was aware of something to its right,” Mr de Villiers said.
‘Suddenly he charged and two porcupines scattered.
‘The leopard went towards the largest one and grabbed it using one of its paws.
War wounds: The big cat spent hours trying to remove his quills after getting out of a fight with a porcupine
Complicated situation: the leopard came out with quills stuck all over its body and spent hours using its paws and teeth to remove them
Self-medication: Photographer Helgard de Villiers captured the scene while photographing the animals in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Licking its wounds: The leopard could be seen in ‘a lot of pain’ when it came out of its brush with the porcupine
‘There was a big fight, most of which took place behind a bush.
“The next thing I knew, the leopard emerged, obviously in a lot of pain and it took over an hour to remove numerous quills.
“He was lucky to live and tell the story, but this time he definitely came in second place.” “It was amazing to see.”
Still standing: The leopard went after the largest porcupine it found and grabbed it with one of its paws
Back on the road: The leopard lived to tell the tale after removing the thorns from his body.
