In Touch With Nature – Cheetah cubs and the numerous challenges they face #Cheetahs #cubs #photographs

Picture caption: Banner for In Touch With Nature featuring a lion lying down

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.

Picture caption: Cheetah cub of about twelve weeks old. It still has the silvery white fur mantle Picture caption: Frontal shot of a cheetah cub aged twelve weeks

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.

Picture caption: A female ‘mother’ cheetah

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.

Picture caption: Mom and twelve week old cubs feeding

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.

Picture caption: Older cheetah cubs (approximately one year) feeding on a baby impala kill Picture caption: A shot of the same cheetah cubs

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.

Picture caption: Cover of Burning Butterflies by Robbie CheadleAbout Roberta Eaton Cheadle Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025

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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Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3