A leopard leapt high into the air during an epic bird-hunting fail in Kruger National Park in South Africa on July 19.

“While on safari in the Kruger National Park, we came around a corner and unexpectedly found a female leopard standing next to the road,” the filmer said.

“We saw movement in a thick bush down the side of the road and quickly realized that she was busy stalking birds called spur fowl,” the filmer said.

“Once the female leopard was close enough to attack, she suddenly charged straight at her target with great speed,” the filmer continued. “Two birds then amazingly burst into a noisy flight to escape.”

“The female leopard spectacularly leapt over two meters into the air in an attempt to grab one of the birds out of the air, narrowly missing her target,” the filmer said.

Leopard are the ultimate opportunists. Although they are essentially nocturnal animals, they will not ignore hunting opportunities that present themselves during the daytime. While on safari in the Kruger National Park, we came around a corner and unexpectedly found a female leopard standing next to the road. The leopard looked extremely focussed and it was clear that she was stalking some sort of prey. We immediately stopped and watched what was going on. We saw movement in a thick bush down the side of the road and quickly realized that she was busy stalking a bird called a spur fowl. Leopards are master stalkers and they will painstakingly approach to within five to ten metres of their quarry before launching an attack. Leopards are extremely good hunters but as the video shows, there are the rare occasions when everything does not go according to plan for them. Once the female leopard was close enough to attack, she suddenly charged straight at her target with great speed. Two birds then amazingly bursts into a noisy flight to escape. At that very same moment the female leopard spectacularly leapt over two meters into the air in an attempt to grab one of the birds out of the air, narrowly missing her target. It all happened so quickly that everyone on the safari vehicle was left a little shaky and overwhelmed at that very moment.