TODAY IN PICTURES

Pitou the leopard en route to board her plane today

Tuesday January 8,2008

By Nicola McCafferty for express.co.uk

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THIS leopard may be crammed into a 'carry-on' luggage cage, but most passengers wouldn't be too pleased to find her in the overhead compartment.

Luckily Pitou the leopard decided to not to terrify any holidaymakers by lurking in the baggage racks and boarded her own special flight to the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Pitou and her beastly brother Sirius were photographed travelling through Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport today as they made their way to their new home at the Shamwari Game Reserve.

The jungle cats, who are both 16-years-old, were given to actress and wildlife campaigner Virginia McKenna by Prince Albert of Monaco on Monday.

The leopards have lived at the Prince's Jardin Animalier zoo for five years and are now bound for sunnier climes in South Africa.

Let's hope the leopards, who both originated from a French travelling circus, don't try any Houdini-style escape tricks on the way.

For more amazing photographs from today in pictures, CLICK HERE to view our gallery.