In Touch With Nature – Cheetah cubs and the numerous challenges they face #Cheetahs #cubs #photographs
Posted: May 28, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized 61 Comments
Cheetah cubs are known for their adorable, fluffy appearance but, sadly, they face a high mortality rate in the wild. Only 10% of cheetah cubs survive to adulthood in the bushveld due to various factors including predators and environmental changes.
Cheetahs do not form lasting pair bonds so once mating occurs, a relatively brief process of no longer than one hour, the male departs. Female cheetahs assume full responsibility for the pregnancy and care of the cubs. The pregnancy lasts between ninety and ninety-five days and during this time the female continues to hunt and see to her nutritional needs and those of her developing cubs. As the birth approaches, the female seeks isolation and a suitable birthing location. This period of solitude is necessary as cheetahs do not share cub-rearing responsibilities.
Cheetahs usually have litters of three to six cubs which are born blind and weighing between two hundred and three hundred grams. Cheetah cubs have a thick silvery-grey mantle down their back which helps camouflage the babies by imitating the look of the aggressive honey badger. This deception is aimed at deterring predators such as lions, hyenas, leopards, and eagles who all kill cheetah cubs. A day or so after the birth, the mother has to leave the cubs in order to hunt for herself so she can continue to feed and care for the cubs. This is a dangerous time for the cubs as they are left unprotected. For the first six weeks of their lives the cubs remain behind while their mother hunts. She moves them from one secluded hiding place to another in order to avoid detection by predators.
At about six weeks, the cubs begin following their mother as she travels around looking for prey. During the first few months, the mother and cubs can’t move far or fast, so they are at their most vulnerable. This is the period when cub fatalities are highest. This is the time when the cubs learn life skills for their survival.
At approximately three months old, the cubs lose their ‘honey badger’ mantle and by one year they are hunting with their mother. At about eighteen months old, the cubs leave their mother. The cubs usually stay together for a few months while they hone and perfect their hunting skills. When the adolescent females start maturing, dominant males will chase their brothers away.
This video is of a cheetah kill. Don’t watch it if you are squeamish.
Tiny cheetah cubs enjoying a kill:
This poem, Around the Bend, is from my latest poetry collection, Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna, available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Butterflies-Poetry-Southern-African-ebook/dp/B0F2SDF2GW
Around the Bend
The dirt road stretches
Towards the distant horizon
What marvel lies beyond
The bend; long white fur
Catches the sunlight
Is it a honey badger?
No, its cheetah cubs
Their silvery-grey mantle
Effective camouflage
They’re enjoying breakfast
An impala kill by mama
Cheetah feast
Note: Cheetah cubs mimic honey badgers in appearance. They have a thick silvery-grey mantle running down their backs that gives them the appearance of a honey badger. This is a form of camouflage and makes the cubs look like an animal known for its fierce and fearless nature. Cheetah cubs are at risk of being eaten by most other predators so this honey badger disguise acts as a deterrent to potential predators giving them a better chance at survival.
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
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The animal world is endlessly fascinating — including the cheetah world, Robbie. Great post! Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne!
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Thank you, Dave 🦋🩵
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My pleasure, Dave. ☺️
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🌝
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A beautiful post full of information and wonderful pictures by Robbie. Thanks for sharing it. ♥
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My pleasure, Olga. I’m delighted you enjoyed it.
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Excellent poem, pics, and videos, Robbie, and thanks for sharing your exciting experiences!
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I’m delighted you enjoyed this post 🌝💛
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Amazing as always, Robbie.
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Thanks, Craig 🥰
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Great information. That little cub is adorable!
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🙏💝
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A wonderful read Robbie and a glorious collection of photos too.
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Thanks, Paul. We have been lucky seeing cheetahs.
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They sure look fearsome, I wouldn’t want to encounter one up close.
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Only 10% survival! I guess it works. Interesting.
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It would work in a natural state of affairs but it’s not working now with all the additional issues like habitat loss. Cheetahs are at risk of extinction in the wild.
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A beautiful post of the cycle of life! Robbie’s photos are wonderful!
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Thank you, Dwight. We’ve had some great good luck during our bush trips.
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You are welcome! And you came home all in one piece!!
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Indeed, that is a goal – smile
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:>)
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Amazing photos and words. So interesting, Robbie.
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My pleasure,Esther. I was thrilled to see these babies. They actually have the same mother. The pictures of the one year old cubs were taken in early September 2023 and the pictures of this young litter are from August last year. Poor mom only had about three months of freedom from pregnancy and cubs 😉
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Poor mom!
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It’s the natural way. At least in the reserves they get medical care if needed due to their endangered status.
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Those are fantastic photos! (How close to the cheetahs were you when you took their photos. (Thank you for the squeamish warning for the videos.)
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My pleasure, Liz. These babies were about 2 metres away. We try not to disturb the mother by getting to close.
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2 meters still seems pretty close!
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Yes, it is quite close. There are rules to protect the mom and cubs.
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Fascinating and amazing !
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Thanks, Maggie 💛
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My pleasure Robbie 💖
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🧡
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Wonderful post! Robbie’s photos, videos, and poetry are fantastic!
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I’m so pleased you enjoyed the cheetah cubs, Tim 🙏
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They’re pretty, Robbie.
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🩵
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Those cheetah cubs are so cute. I didn’t know they were born blind. Are any other animals born blind? I thought the info about the male leaving the female after about an hour of mating was interesting! Love the poem and photos, Robbie.
Thanks, Kaye, for having Robbie on your blog today.
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Thanks, Kay. Domestic cats, lions and leopards are all born blind and helpless which is interesting . I’m pleased you enjoyed this post.
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You’re welcome Robbie.
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🌹
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Whoa, cheetah moms are really hard workers! And cheetah dads are the opposite when it comes to the kids. Thanks for sharing the info, along with the amazing photos and poem 🌞
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Hi Dave, cheetahs generally have a hard life as they are a small predator. The males often hang out in pairs of brothers, the same as lions..
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I just wo hug them ALL and make them meals whenever they are hungry. ❤
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Their mom was doing a good job looking after them. They are very cute.
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Thanks for the information Robbie. Life is perilous in the wild. (K)
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Yes, especially for young creatures.
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That is a shockingly low survival rate, Robbie. I had no idea. Thanks for the education. Lots of new material for me.
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I’m delighted this interested you, Pete
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What a lovely and informative post. Normally it would be difficult to watch animals feasting on other animals, but these pictures are done so tastefully (pardon the pun) that it’s almost like they are all taking a nap together. Thanks for sharing this post! I can’t wait to read Robbie’s book. It’s on my Kindle.
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Hi Marsha, I’m glad these pictures didn’t upset you. Hyena and wild dog kills are much messier but it is the natural way.
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Not having to look at the head or the bloody innards of the animal makes it easier.
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10% is a sad number for survival. I learned much from your post, Robbie, and I enjoyed your poetry.
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Hi Robbie, I very much enjoyed reading this post about cheetah cubs. I was struck by how they made room for each other when feeding on the impala. Excellent post!
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Hi Barbara, animals have as strict code of behaviour (unlike humans – grin!)
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True words!
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Everything needs to eat even if the prey is cute. Most of us eat meat, so being squeamish seeing an animal actually killed seems pretty hypocritical. The horrors of a slaughter house would make most people swoon too.
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I agree but some people prefer not to think about it 😉
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Which is why the world never changes. Technical changes. Administrative changes. But how people REALLY feel and think — you’d think by now we’d have moved past where we are now. If not a complete change, how about a few small, but important changes? Like stopping hating people because of them being part of a different tribe!
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