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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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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....
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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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