CHEETAH WITH CHARACTER

Almost six months ago a female cheetah escaped death from the strength of lion and leopard combined. Her four cubs unfortunately didn’t. This incident where mother instinct was driven to the extreme to try and protect her cubs from a lioness (with a leopard also in close range) was to no avail.

This cheetah was seen a day after losing her cubs trying to clean her wounds, but in a very bad condition – ribcage on both sides exposed and torn open between the hind legs. Shortly after that we didn’t see her for three months. After thinking we had lost another cheetah to the aggression of a predator hierarchy, we were happy to see her again high up in the mountains, healed at least on a physical level.

For another two months she wasn’t seen until her return to the hunting grounds close to a waterhole, hunting impala. Although unsuccessful in her attempt to kill that day, she looked healthy and soon to be ready for another litter. This morning she was seen again! The best of it all is that she seemed to be lactating. After just six months, there is the shadow of life in the distance.

The rains have come and maybe in February we would have another set of little ones running around and climbing Marula trees.

Posted: Phinda by Eduard de Waal, Date: 27 December 2011