January 11, 2025
The beginning of the new year turned out to be very busy – from observing new (or rather, long-unseen) cheetahs in different Conservancies and floating males in the Reserve, to intensive daily monitoring and assistance to Nashipae. On the evening of December 31, while hunting on a rocky road, Nashipae got an injury – a dislocation of the shoulder joint of her left leg. The injury to her front leg temporarily deprived the female of the ability to hunt and defend herself from predators. We are very grateful to the Mara Veterinarian Dr. Njoroge of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, for his prompt response and help to the female – he has already treated Nashipae twice. Together with a heroic team of the Mara Cheetah Unit rangers, we are taking care of the female and her family so that she is not disturbed in particular by predators, eats regularly and in peace. Since the incident, the family has been spending more time in a closed area in the tall grass. The young cubs stay with their mother and together track down danger. However, Nashipae often hides in the tall grass away from the cubs to be less visible. In the absence of food, the cubs can drive away a hyena, but the female cannot, since when frightening an intruder, cheetahs hit the ground with their front paws, and the female is now protecting her paw. Nashipae is improving slowly, therefore we will care for the family as long as it takes for the mother to fully recover and for the cubs to perfect their hunting and survival skills. The cubs continue to learn from their experienced mother, and the longer they are together, the more successful they be.