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Lynda S. | profile | all galleries >> East Africa 2007 >> A cheetah mom takes her cubs to lunch... tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

A cheetah mom takes her cubs to lunch...

This was pretty awesome morning in the Maasai Mara. Our safari director, Daniel, spotted a cheetah and her three 8 1/2 month cubs on the side of the road, across from a Thompson's Gazelle and a herd of female impala with one buck leading it. Daniel told us the cheetah mom would hide her three cubs over by a mound, and then wait for an opportune moment to dash across the road for a nice lunch. We all agreed we wanted to wait with her - watch the three hour story unfold in these pictures.....
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This mom was showing her young cubs how to hunt
This mom was showing her young cubs how to hunt		 Leading the cubs to a high grassy knoll, mom told the kids to take a nap
Leading the cubs to a high grassy knoll, mom told the kids to take a nap		 The kids followed her behind the mound
The kids followed her behind the mound		 There's the other two, our driver, also named Daniel, says there are two boys, and he's not sure on the third one.
There's the other two, our driver, also named Daniel, says there are two boys, and he's not sure on the third one.
Across the road to the left was a crossing of zebra
Across the road to the left was a crossing of zebra		 Just beyond the zebra was a herd of female impala, with one male at the head
Just beyond the zebra was a herd of female impala, with one male at the head		 And, last, was a lone gazelle. Daniel thought the cheetah mom would go after the gazelle as it was all alone
And, last, was a lone gazelle. Daniel thought the cheetah mom would go after the gazelle as it was all alone		 Also setting the stage was two other vehicles in front of us
Also setting the stage was two other vehicles in front of us
After about an hour, the zebra left. Mom got up and very quietly changed positions, positioning herself to give chase.
After about an hour, the zebra left. Mom got up and very quietly changed positions, positioning herself to give chase.		 Around 12:00 two topi wandered onto the stage. The cheetah remained hiding across the road.
Around 12:00 two topi wandered onto the stage. The cheetah remained hiding across the road.		 After about 1/2 hr, the topi left. A few minutes after that a lone 'boy' wandered onto the scene, the male buck gave chase.
After about 1/2 hr, the topi left. A few minutes after that a lone 'boy' wandered onto the scene, the male buck gave chase.		 At 12:47, a female wandered too far away from the rest and the cheetah mom saw her chance to strike!
At 12:47, a female wandered too far away from the rest and the cheetah mom saw her chance to strike!
Mom called in the cubs. This was after all, a hunting lesson as well as lunch!
Mom called in the cubs. This was after all, a hunting lesson as well as lunch!		 As it turned out, they did pretty good!
As it turned out, they did pretty good!		 Surprisingly to me, this was not hard to watch, it was just nature
Surprisingly to me, this was not hard to watch, it was just nature		 Daniel assured us that the impala by this time could not feel anything due to fright
Daniel assured us that the impala by this time could not feel anything due to fright
And finally, at 12:49, they bring her down, the cubs start eating eagerly while mom watches warily
And finally, at 12:49, they bring her down, the cubs start eating eagerly while mom watches warily		 We pulled up closer to them, she didn't mind us there at all.
We pulled up closer to them, she didn't mind us there at all.		 After a short few minutes of eating, the impala's leg twitched and scared the cubs!
After a short few minutes of eating, the impala's leg twitched and scared the cubs!		 All is calm again, but mom still keeps a lookout for hyena
All is calm again, but mom still keeps a lookout for hyena
We followed her gaze back over to where she had hidden originally to stalk the kill
We followed her gaze back over to where she had hidden originally to stalk the kill		 Sure enough, a hyena was waiting. As we were so close though, the hyena did not attempt to come over to steal the kill.
Sure enough, a hyena was waiting. As we were so close though, the hyena did not attempt to come over to steal the kill.		 A jackal was also waiting in the wings, This was at 12:53.
A jackal was also waiting in the wings, This was at 12:53.		 I know these guys are scavengers, but they are cute with those teddy bear ears....
I know these guys are scavengers, but they are cute with those teddy bear ears....
A rare moment when mom is eating & a cub watches for danger.
A rare moment when mom is eating & a cub watches for danger.		 Most of the time, mom watched.
Most of the time, mom watched.		 This was probably a training period.
This was probably a training period.		 Dining out with the kids
Dining out with the kids
Mom watches the hyena across the road
Mom watches the hyena across the road		 g6/40/780740/3/83492352.hB67UE5y.jpg That's OK, guys, go ahead & eat...
That's OK, guys, go ahead & eat...		 This is one happy cheetah family
This is one happy cheetah family
Everybody look right....
Everybody look right....		 By 13:18, the vultures started to come in
By 13:18, the vultures started to come in		 This was the first guy there, he was only alone for a few minutes though
This was the first guy there, he was only alone for a few minutes though		 This was amazing to see how the vultures lined up. There is a specific pecking order amongst them.
This was amazing to see how the vultures lined up. There is a specific pecking order amongst them.
They are not so bad looking with their wings spread
They are not so bad looking with their wings spread		 A maribou stork joined them, he was pretty well relagated to the back of the line though.
A maribou stork joined them, he was pretty well relagated to the back of the line though.		 We left at 13:46, just after this picture. The hyena was still across the road and the vultures still waited patiently.
We left at 13:46, just after this picture. The hyena was still across the road and the vultures still waited patiently.
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Lynda S.01-Nov-2023 21:39
Thanks Kent, much appreciated!
Kent Dellaire31-Aug-2023 01:46
Thanks for the timeline shown in a series of photos. I don't think I've ever seen this done before. It was a perfect subject for this to happen, and simultaneously show what's going on in the neighborhood. You have my vote.
ss 13-Aug-2009 21:07
Excellent adventure. Poor impala, but great to see the nature as it is.
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