Big cat left red faced after losing lunch

This story involves a hungry leopard and a little bird, but it doesn’t end how you’d expect.

A game watcher has filmed a big cat going in for the kill at South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

After setting its sights on a water-thick knee bird, the leopard pounces, pinning down the tiny animal with its paw.

But just as the dinner menu looks set, the bird somehow wriggles free and makes a desperate dash to safety in a nearby waterhole.

The leopard quickly gives chase but is forced to stop at the water’s edge.

“Ahh you lost it haha! Sorry Boet,” the man filming can be heard saying in the background.

As the cunning bird swims off, the leopard is left to ponder the one that got away.

Frustrated ferret loses his lunch

Helpless dog watches cat eat from his bowl

Tiger too slow to catch dinner