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.
© Mara-Meru Cheetah Project (MMCP). All observations, images and videos in this post are our own unless stated otherwise. Please credit appropriately when sharing
