![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dung-Beetle-800x420.jpg\")
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A wildlife photographer in South Africa captured a rare encounter between two of the most unlikely creatures: a dung beetle and a leopard.<\/p>\n
According to The Dodo<\/a>, Nick Kleer was on safari in the Mala Mala Game Reserve when he caught sight of a dung beetle doing what the little insect does: rolling a ball of dung around. <\/p>\n As he filmed the beetle going about its dirty business, Kleer happened to notice a leopard standing nearby, which was also watching the scarab roller. The naturally curious feline soon wandered over to expect the industrious insect. <\/p>\n As it sets its massive paw down next to the beetle, the leopard lowered its head for an almighty sniff; something it seemed to regret as the leopard appeared to pull a face afterward as if to say, \u201cgross.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cLuckily for the beetle, one sniff was all it took for the leopard to realize it wasn\u2019t a very appetizing treat,\u201d adds Latest Sigthings \u2013 Kruger, on Facebook.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA cat doing cat things, regardless of species,\u201d writes one of Kleer\u2019s Instagram followers. \u201cThis should win a prize. Surely one of the most unique videos ever,\u201d adds another. <\/p>\n The leopard\u2019s inquisitive nature was perfectly captured by Kleer. The Dodo notes that his photography serves to shine a light on Africa\u2019s leopards which have \u201csuffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting,\u201d according to the World Land Trust.<\/a><\/p>\n However, reserves like Mala Mala are a safe space for leopards \u2014 and dung beetles \u2014 to roam freely. The photographer, Kleer, grew up in South Africa and, according to his website<\/a>, spent \u201cjust about every school holiday\u201d exploring Kruger National Park and other game reserves across Southern Africa with his family. <\/p>\n \u201cOne of my most vivid memories from those trips was spotting my first leopard when I was just six years old. From that moment, I was hooked on big cats, and after university (and a short stint in a suit and tie), I quickly realized that my heart belonged in the wild, not in an office,\u201d Kleer adds. <\/p>\n More of Kleer\u2019s work can be found on his Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Image credits:<\/strong> Header photo licensed via Depositphotos<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/blockquote>\n