The mother cheetah has been badly injured.
We don’t know what happened to her, but she was tracked and found by Melvin Sambo and Milton Khoza yesterday evening, not too far from camp, with a large and serious-looking gash on her back right leg. Her cubs were with her still, which I suppose is one positive, as they must have been near her during whatever incident took place yet got through unscathed.
We have yet to determine how serious the injury is to the female, as the three cheetahs were found shortly before sunset, and in the half-light and in long grass it was difficult to ascertain the extent of the damage to her leg.
Let’s look at the facts.
At the moment, there are four cheetahs viewable on Londolozi. The predator-rich area that is the central Sabi Sands precludes a higher number from setting up territories here, yet these four – the solitary male and the mother and cubs – have so far thrived. The grasslands that are their home support a lower number of herbivores than the surrounds, particularly areas closer to the Sand River, and as a result fewer large predators inhabit the area. The grasslands are like an island of refuge in a sea of lions, hyenas and leopards.
Yet it was only 48 hours ago that the mother and her cubs ventured once more onto Nyamakunze crest, which as mentioned in The Week In Pictures a couple of times recently, borders the grasslands and is where the predator density rises dramatically. Less than 500m from where the male cheetah was robbed by the Camp Pan male leopard last week, the mother and her cubs had their impala kill stolen by the Sparta pride two mornings ago.
They headed west to lie out the day in the shade of a Scented Thorn Acacia, but as evening fell they moved north towards the Maxabene Riverbed, out of familiar territory. Yesterday morning they were not found, but tracks crossed the Maxabene still heading north, towards an area the three cheetahs have never ventured before.
Setting out on afternoon game drive, Melvin and Milton found the tracks not too far from the airstrip and followed up, eventually finding the three cats near Vomba Dam, less than a kilometre from camp, with the mother badly wounded.
How much longer will these two cubs be able to engage in light-hearted play if their mother dies?
What is going to happen to her, especially near the river, away from familiar territory, where lions and leopards abound?
If she dies, the cubs die with her. They may survive a few days or even a few weeks if lucky, but they are almost certainly too young to fend for themselves and survive in such a hostile environment.
The female cheetah leads her cubs through the grasslands; an area which she led the youngsters away from yesterday morning, possibly to pay the ultimate price…
Londolozi has a non-intervention policy when it comes to animals injured by natural causes, but is is still sad to stand by and watch.
We will obviously monitor the female and her cubs closely, but I would be interested to hear your opinions on what you would do – Intervene and potentially save the three animals? Or sit back and let nature take it’s course?
Please leave your thoughts below
Written and Photographed by James Tyrrell
I think that Mother Nature may need a hand in this case. Cheetahs are struggling to survive and you may be able to save 3 by saving 1, along with their future offspring. Londolozi has a tough decision to make.
Dart her and save her and the cubs!
Oh God – this is so hard!! While one side of me is shouting – DO SOMETHING – the other side is saying, let nature take its course!! This has to be one of the hardest parts of your job, looking on knowing that you could do something but are unable to do so!! As we all know though, Nature does have a way of surprising us from time to time & maybe, just maybe, she might surprise us all & come through this!! All we can do is hope & pray xx
Normally non-intervention makes sense and is absolutely the right way to go, but given the critically endangered status of cheetahs this case in my opinion is different. I have witnessed low key intervention in the Masai Mara and it does seem to have its merits in certain cases. I think in this isolated case I would intervene so as not to lose three cheetahs, the most fragile and rare of African cats.
So very sad.
Hi James, I say dart the three get her back to good health and release them, maybe I am to soft but hate to see animals of witch there are so few left lost when we are able to help. Nature is to harsh some times. Please keep us up to date. Hope it all turns out well.
Purists seldom win. Pick her & the cubs up & move them back to their own territory. A stich & antibiotic dhot may save 3 cheetah and future generations. This is for their sake and ours. Figure out ehy she’s moving outside her range. Save her. You will only regret not having done so.
What everyone else said….. Save her! Please keep us posted! Good luck!
I say do what ever you can – there are not enough cheetahs left to ignore this. Also having spent time with this mother and two, I have a very soft spot for them!
We impact on these animals in ways we can’t even imagine by constantly viewing them. I think we owe it to them to help if we can. I think that you should call the vet and get her stitched up. We have done it before. I vividly remember sitting on the londolozi airstrip all night watching over a mother cheetah and her two cubs after she was stitched up by Douw Grobler from Skukuza. We had to watch her all night to make sure she was protected while coming round from the anesthetic and to chase any other predators away while she recovered. There was very little impact on her. Her cubs ran of a short distance when we darted her but stayed nearby and joined her again while she was coming round from the anesthetic. You just have to hope the stitches hold when she chases her next impala!
There are too few cheetahs in the world…intervention is the right thing in this case
Save her!
I’m with the interventionists, too. Dart and treat her. If she’s mobile afterwards, try to provide kills till she heals. She is a draw for your business.
please please dart her and the babies, the cheetah are protected anyway and are struggling as it is, this family need your help now more than ever
absolutely save them ! feed them and get a vet to dart her and give her antibiotics and assess wound, you can and must save them !!!!!
I agree with most of the people on here. There are very few cheetahs in the wild. If you can help save these 3 cheetahs than please do what ever you can to save her. Best of luck!
Save her…..I find the Non-intervention policy ridiculously stupid and on top of that…she has cubs and everyone knows how hard it is for cubs to survive into adulthood.
Hi “C”,
Thank you for your comments. I would be interested to know why you find the non-intervention policy ridiculously stupid, as you put it..
James T
I agree with all above. Depending on what her injuries actually are, perhaps a relatively simple intervention could possibly save all 3. In this case, saving these three is the right thing to do.
As said above….cheetahs are struggling to survive….I’d step in & help.
I agree with Elaine Randolph Dart them move them back to their home turf stitch her up give her some antibiotics and see what happens
Intervention must take place. Cheetahs are rare, beautiful, and spectacular, and I always look forward to hearing about them. It would just be heartbreaking to watch them all suffer. Please take cause in this action. In the end, everyone will agree this will be the best outcome for now and in the future. Please save Mother cheetah and her babies.
I do realize that we should let nature take it’s course bit i also feel that with the Cheetah being an endangered species, intervention would be an acceptable solution. Isn’t Londolozi situated close to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre?
Please do the human thing and save them.
SIMPLE CALL – CHEETAHS = TOURIST DOLLARS AND PHOTO OPPS = SAVE THEM AT ALL COSTS. Mike Madonna
So many salient comments. In brief, I agree with Adam – dart her and save the three of them!