In this video, a female cheetah delighted a regular contributor to Latest Sightings when he encountered her. His joy multiplied as more and more cubs emerged from the grass to join her.
Mark Fox submitted this delightful footage. He filmed it while driving on the S28, in the southern section of South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
A delight to see
As Mark drove along the S28 gravel road between Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie, he saw a mother cheetah and two cubs on the road, delighting him.
Like many cheetahs in the park, she was well habituated to vehicles and all but ignored him. However, her cubs were not so sure about the approaching vehicle.
Showing sensitivity for the youngsters, Mark stopped a fair distance away. Subsequently, the mother lay down and briefly groomed one of the cubs.
Joy multiplied
His joy at having chanced upon the sighting soon multiplied. For moments later, another five cubs emerged from the long grass next to the road.
Among large cats, cheetahs typically have the largest litters. At seven cubs, this Mom’s litter was just one shy of the maximum of eight.
One in three survive
Researchers think their large litters may be an evolutionary adaptation to compensate for a higher infant mortality rate. Only one in three cheetah cubs survives to adulthood.
Subsequently, with her family reunited, Mum continued to lead them down the road. As you’d imagine, her cubs were bundles of energy as they ran to keep up with her.
Worrying development
Subsequently, we see the cubs waiting on the road. Worryingly, there is no sign of their mother.
Tiny as they are, the cubs are completely defenceless. The majority of cubs are lost to other predators, while others are abandoned, get sick, or starve when food is scarce.
Subsequently, the cubs continue down the road, heightening our concern for their wellbeing. However, when the mother emerges from the long grass, we can all breathe a sigh of relief.
This would happen several times throughout the sighting. It seems she was trying to get her family to rest, but they were determined to continue exploring.
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A closer look
Consequently, when the female re-entered the long grass, Mark was able to carefully approach a bit closer to the cubs.
In doing so, we are afforded a better look at the cubs. What is most noticeable about them is the long, pale hair on their backs.
Some researchers think this fur may be an evolutionary adaptation to deter predators when Mum is absent. The theory is that it makes them resemble the fearsome honey badger.
Cheetah cubs wear this mantle of fur until they are four months old. Simultaneously, their spotted markings become more pronounced against a tawny background.
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According to Mark, he followed the cheetah family for about an hour, with the mother zigzagging in and out of the grass continuously.
And so it was with a mixture of gratitude and disappointment when he watched the cubs follow Mum into the veld. His sighting came to an end when she finally managed to settle her family in a dense bush.
Should you be fortunate enough to see this Super Mom and her large family, please be sure to send your footage to Latest Sightings.