Cheetah: Against All Odds

Cheetah: Against All Odds

2008, Nature  -   8 Comments
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Ratings: 8.54/10 from 56 users.

In the Serengeti cheetahs live edgy lives. Females with cubs must hunt for food and if left alone their offspring are prone to the cruelty of more dominant predators. Even scavengers can abuse this slim feline built for speed. Cheetahs are the most agile but also the most defenseless of the big cats. Two cheetah mothers, both with different fate, raise their cubs against all the odds. Does know-how count or are they both at the mercy of pure chance?

Five male cheetahs and one female... wherever she goes her entourage follows lured by her readiness to mate. She's in estrus but she's no pushover. There's tension among the coalition of five but the female and suitors stay together sometimes for several days before she's ready to mate. As the subordinate males watch and wait, the dominant male cheetah moves in.

The female acts like any other feline during this period and if the pairing is successful in three months she'll give birth to a litter of five or six. Females with cubs search out hiding places in their territory to keep their young safe from predators. At any sign of danger or discovery they'll immediately move their cubs. Thick vegetation provides sanctuary and cheetah cubs are well camouflaged, but even so they're not allowed to wander far. She has five cubs and she'll need good luck and substantial skills to raise all of her offspring.

Another female's home range is farther out into the open plains. Termite mounts are excellent vantage points from where both danger and prey can be spotted. She too has a big litter. Mortality in young cheetahs is high. Although females give birth to up to six cubs, nine out of ten fail to reach adulthood. Raising four cubs to over a month old is significant maternal achievement.

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story side
story side
6 years ago

to sander kumar

rly? How about gazelle who she was trying to eat? It is what it is, shouldnt pick a side.. in my opinion at least.

sandeep kumar
sandeep kumar
7 years ago

One of the best documentaries I've watched ... Felt sorry for the mother who got stabbed by that giant gazelle

1funkychicken
1funkychicken
10 years ago

That was pretty cool

NX2
NX2
10 years ago

"I quickly build up i cheetah, and light it with a flash" (Pato Banton)
Sorry, that's totally beside the point of the doc., but i just couldn't help myself now.

jackmax
jackmax
10 years ago

Besides the inaccurate speeds quoted I found this documentary extremely informative and as with most nature films a pleasure to watch.

Richard Neva
Richard Neva
10 years ago

Survival of the fittest is a magnificent thing!

~Oliver B Koslik Esq
~Oliver B Koslik Esq
10 years ago

Great take downs!

+1

rngfarrell
rngfarrell
10 years ago

Interesting documentary. Such beautiful creatures.