How does the panther kill its prey?

The panther's kill is won through patient stalking and a sudden burst of speed, not a leaping pounce.

Concept

• The hunting method is a two-stage process: a slow, silent approach followed by an explosive final sprint, rather than a single spring or jump onto the prey.
• This distinction is important because the text specifically rules out "springing" as the method of attack.

Key points

• Stage 1 — Stalking: the panther creeps as close to its prey as possible while remaining undetected.
• Stage 2 — Final dash: once close enough, it launches a lightning-fast sprint to seize the victim, rather than leaping onto it.

Common mistakes (परीक्षा में सावधानी)

• A very common error is writing that the panther "springs" or "pounces" on its prey — the passage explicitly states it does not spring, so this loses a mark.
• Both stages — the close stalk and the fast final dash — must be mentioned to secure both marks.

Real-world

• This stalk-and-sprint technique is characteristic of many big cats (e.g., leopards, cheetahs), which rely on getting close undetected before using a short burst of high speed to run down prey.