12/10/2023
In the wild, it is impossible to estimate the rate of survival of cub females versus cub males’ because the sex of the cubs at birth is unknown. Some families are spotted first when cubs are about 4 months old, and could already have lost littermates, as the first three months are known to be the most critical for cheetah cub survival. Our long-term observations in the Mara suggest that cub survival rate of males is higher that of females. Majority of the litters at the first encounter, contained cubs of both sexes. Out of 43 litters, for which the time of cubs’ dispersal was known, in 81% litters (n=35) was at least one cub male. In 2022, out of 6 litters raised to independence, 5 litters contained at least one male, and out of 15 cubs, 60% were males (n=9). With age, cub become more active, and spend more time playing with each other. For the single cub, the only partner is the mother. In the beginning of July 2023, Kisaru gave birth to four cubs at the Mbokishi Conservancy. Within 1,5 months, she lost half of a litter, and started travelling through the conservancies with two remaining cubs – a male and a female. In the last week of November, she appeared on the eastern border of the Reserve with a single cub – a son. For a week, she was trying to proceed deeper into the reserve, but did not manage to cross the high and rough waters of the Talek river.
After hunting, cheetahs usually drag a kill into the nearest bushes and by that, keep it safe for hours. Depending on the number and age of the cubs, the family is feeding on the adult Thomson gazelle or Impala from one to 6 hours. When hunting in the open area, cheetahs risk losing a kill to kleptoparasites. Flying vultures attract jackals and hyenas. By follow cheetahs, jackals sometimes distract their hunts. While single cheetahs and male coalitions sometimes share the part of a kill with jackals, cheetah mothers rarely tolerate these small predators and chase them. The cubs assert themselves, driving the jackals away from their prey. Females with a single cub, are feeding in turns, sharing vigilance.
Lions and hyenas are known to be the major enemies of cheetahs, and mothers do their best to protect their offspring and teach survival strategies. By seeing approaching hyena or a lion, cheetah mother would rush towards it and lead away from her cubs. Recently, we observed how Kirasu ran towards a big lioness who had spotted cheetahs from far and was running towards them. Fortunately, on the way to the cheetah family, the lioness saw a family of Warthogs, caught one and lost interest in cheetahs. However, Kisaru had reached the lioness, followed and slapped her from the back. Her son was watching the scene from over 200 meters and ran towards the mother, when the action was over. The lioness focused on protecting her prey from the hyenas, and the cheetah family escaped safely.
