One Hungry Mouse

The extraordinary  scene was captured by  photography student   Casey  Gutteridge at the Santago Rare  Leopard Project in   Hertfordshire. The   19-year-old, from Potters Bar,  Hertfordshire,  who was photographing the  leopard for a course project, was astounded by the mouse's behaviour.

He said: 'I  have no idea  where the mouse came from -  he just appeared in  the enclosure after  the keeper had dropped in the meat for the  leopard. He didn't take any notice of the  leopard, just went straight over to the meat and  started feeding himself.'

'But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed the mouse and flinched a bit like she was scared. In the meantime the mouse just carried on eating like nothing had happened.

But even a gentle  shove does not deter the little creature from  getting his fill... 'It was  amazing, even  the keeper who had thrown the meat into the  enclosure was shocked - he said  he'd never  seen anything like it before.'  

Project owner Jackie James added:  'It  was so funny to see - Sheena batted  the mouse a couple of times to try to get it  away from her food.'  But the determined  little thing took no notice and just carried  on.' 

Sheena  was  brought in to the Santago Rare Leopard Project  from a UK zoo when she  was just four  months old.  She is one of 14 big cats in  the private collection started by Jackie 's  late husband Peter  in 1989.  The African Leopard can be found  in the continent's forests, grasslands,  savannas, and rainforests.

....so the mouse  continued to eat the leopard's lunch  and show the  leopard who was the  boss.  Just proves  no one can push you around  without your permission.