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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vincent van der Spek" data-source="post: 3348357" data-attributes="member: 135873">In 2011, I went to Suriname. In Kabalebo you're not allowed to go out on you're own: you can only join the  organised, non-birding walks that start late. I illegally walked a good trail behind the lodge every day. On my last morning I was watching an antbird flock. After ten minutes or so I turned around - only to see something big walking towards me. It stopped some 12-15 metres away from me. I was looking at the most beautiful predator of the continent: a jaguar. I couldn't believe it! I was euphoric about the sighting, but stayed remarkably focussed as well. I remember observing details about the eye colour, the pattern of the fur and the leg muscles. I was impressed, yes, but I wasn't really worried, as Jaguar attacks are so rare. So there I was, in a stare off with a big cat. What was it? Eight, ten seconds? It then twisted its head a little, presumably to estimate distance. Then it suddenly moved towards me. Fast. My heart was in my throat. I was stuck to the ground, but I remember thinking: don't run, only food runs (I don't know where that wisdom came from, given the circumstances). At about an estimated 7-8 metres it suddenly stopped. It looked at me for maybe another second and then left the trail, never to be seen again. I can assure you I was pretty scared when I walked back to the lodge (looking over my shoulder all the time!). The thing is that I was mainly thrilled about the sighting: it took me some time to realise that I've probably been luckier than I thought back then - no matter how rare Jaguar attacks are. It decided that I was a bit to smelly to chew on, but given its behaviour it really must have been in doubt.So what could have been the worst thing while birding (with a pregnant girlfriend back in the lodge - can you imagine?), turned out to be the best sighting I ever had in South America. It turned into a good story for social gatherings (non-birders tend to ask: did you make any photos?). But it was certainly was the scariest moment of my birding life - worse than the guys that followed me during a high speed car race in Peru!The thing is that even I (and many birders with me), despite having more knowledge of the natural world than most humans, are still a little naive about walking through all these forests in remote places.</blockquote>

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