NEEMA AND RANGER. DAYTIME MATING

January 18, 2026

Our long-term observations of cheetahs in the wild have shown that the most successful cheetahs in the Mara are those that have adapted to various anthropogenic factors. For example, cheetahs accustomed to the presence of tourist vehicles are capable of mating during the day, taking advantage of any opportunity. However, to observe this behavior, guides must maintain distance and silence, giving the animals space and time.

For three days, Ranger, aged 3 years and 8 months, followed Neema, aged 10.5 years. We observed one daytime mating on the second day of courtship. On the morning of the third day, Neema left Ranger. Interestingly, the male showed no interest in the female that day, but whenever she tried to leave, he chased her and displayed aggression, which Neema neutralized with a submissive stance.

Female cheetahs are receptive for only three days, and a pair can mate during all three days, increasing the female’s chances of successful fertilization. Because female cheetahs are promiscuous, a female can mate with two or more males in a single cycle. Neema was likely in late estrus when Ranger found her. Their behavior indicated that they knew each other and had mated before. Mid-April will reveal whether the matings were successful. However, it’s important to remember that it’s very difficult for a female who gives birth at over 10 years of age to raise a litter.

Ranger notices presence of hyena when it was very close

Hyena is checking the air if there are any cheetahs hiding

Ranger is checking the spot marked by Neema

SEASON’S GREETINGS

December 27, 2025

Dear friends and colleagues, followers and supporters, advisors and sponsors from around the globe, the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May it be filled with joy, happiness, success, and prosperity. Thank you for your continued support of our research and conservation efforts. Only together can we save this unique wild cat—the cheetah—from extinction!

Cordially, MMCP team

THIS MORNING, THE MAASAI MARA LOST NORA

December 13, 2025

THIS MORNING, THE MAASAI MARA LOST NORA, the oldest known female cheetah in the ecosystem (13.5 years), following a fatal encounter with a leopard.

Born in April 2012 to Narasha, alongside her brother M23-Nur, Nora’s life was shaped early by independence, after Narasha left them in December 2013, and after separating with her brother in February 2014, Nora began her solitary life at 21 months old. From October 2014 onward, she was recorded pregnant more than 15 times and gave birth to over 11 litters sired by different males, though most were lost within the first two month, a stark reflection of the high reproductive costs female cheetahs face. In September 2016, she achieved a rare success, raising a single male cub to independence from a litter of four born in June 2015. Her last recorded reproductive effort came in February 2023, when she gave birth late in the afternoon and lost the cub within a month.

In older cheetahs, parturition often takes longer and occurs later in the day rather than at night or early morning, increasing the risk of detection by other predators; cubs are also mostly weaker and do not survive in the wild.

Nora’s long, resilient life tells a powerful story of endurance, loss, and the biological limits faced by aging cheetahs. As we reflect on her legacy, we are reminded of the critical role responsible tourism plays; maintaining distance, keeping noise low, and avoiding overcrowding are essential to reducing stress and predation risk, especially for vulnerable individuals and mothers with cubs.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHEETAH DAY

December 4, 2025

Today on International Cheetah Day we celebrate the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project’s on-the-ground wins, a community-rooted conservation force that combines rigorous science with on-the-ground action.

Through a comprehensive individual cheetah identification and pedigree system, coordinated monitoring and protection (with ranger teams such as the Mara Cheetah Unit) of cubs to independence, targeted health checks, monitoring of sick cheetahs, and veterinary partnerships, and the recruitment, training and equipping of local scouts, the project is directly impacting cheetah conservation and minimising human–wildlife conflict. Our research on habitat use and behavioural adaptations in human-dominated areas has informed strategic policies such as cheetah observation rules, while sustained community outreach, through initiatives like herders’ training, as well as conservation education in schools turns knowledge into protection at the grassroots.

By working closely with conservation authorities, local communities, and tourism partners the project turns sightings, photographic IDs and field observations into practical interventions.

On a day dedicated to raising awareness, remember that cheetahs still face habitat loss, conflict and genetic challenges worldwide, and supporting local, science-led efforts like Mara-Meru cheetah project is a step closer to a measurable difference in cheetah conservation.

TERRITORIAL CONFLICT – SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME

October 9, 2025

Unlike solitary males, male cheetahs in coalitions have the ability to establish and maintain a territory. Territorial males are intolerant of intruders, and if an incoming male does not escape in time, he has a chance of being maimed or dying from bites immediately, or worse, from infected wounds. Over 13 years of observation, we witnessed more than 20 encounters between coalitions and between single individuals and coalitions, and only in two cases did the fights result in serious injury to the individual being attacked, resulting in the death of one intruder.

Recently, a meeting took place between two of the oldest males in Mara – 11-year-old Olonyok and 10-year-old Milele. Olonyok, after losing his coalition, continues to remain within the territory of his coalition, Tano Bora. Meanwhile, Milele, after losing his coalition-mate in May 2023, began exploring new territories, and by October 2025, he had visited the reserve three times. Three days ago, he met the last member of the Tano Bora coalition. Olonyok was more confident during their encounter, but Milele proved stronger, and with his sharp teeth, he inflicted multiple bites on Olonyok.

Although Olonyok also scratched Milele’s back, it did not negatively impact his health. After three contractions, Olonyok monitored Milele for nine hours, and after dusk, he left the spot. Milele waited until Olonyok had retreated to a safe distance and carefully examined Olonyok’s resting place, then moved in the opposite direction.

The next day, both males successfully hunted: Milele on the border with Lemek and Olonyok near the interaction site.

It’s important to note that although Olonyok is accustomed to the presence of numerous vehicles, as he aged, he began hunting primarily in the reserve’s restricted areas to avoid disturbance during hunting. It’s critical to remember that an older animal needs to conserve energy, and every unsuccessful hunt attempt negatively impacts its survival.

“Please do not drive around game or stand in front of a hunting cheetah.”

Remember that to hunt successfully, the cheetah must be closer to its prey than the cars, so that it has room to maneuver. Following this simple rule will help ensure the success of this renowned male’s hunts, and therefore prolong his life.