Surviving as a cheetah cub is no easy feat, and we know that the key to their survival lies primarily with their mother.

Female cheetahs lead solitary lives, and once mated, they raise their cubs alone, with males having no involvement in the nurturing process.

After mating, which lasts 2-3 days, the female returns to her solitary existence. Her pregnancy lasts about 100 days, and the cubs are born in litters of 2-6, each with distinctively fuzzy gray coats and tiny, helpless forms.

Protecting the Cubs

During the first few weeks, protection from predators is vital. Cheetah mothers take great care in hiding their cubs in secure dens to keep them away from threats like lions, hyenas, and leopards. The first two months are particularly dangerous, and unfortunately, many litters do not survive due to predator attacks.

Cheetah mothers fight fiercely to protect their cubs, but their speed is their primary defense, not their strength. If predators discover the cubs, the mother tries to drive them off, but it's often a losing battle. Once the cubs reach 2 months, they gain a protective mantle of fur along their backs, which disguises them as honey badgers, helping to ward off predators.

Learning to Survive

As the cubs grow, they start developing important survival skills through play and observation. Between 2 and 8 months, their survival depends on learning to hunt, which they watch their mothers do. However, this period is also marked by danger as their playful nature can alert prey and predators alike.

Cubs also begin practicing their hunting skills by chasing smaller animals and playing with each other. At around 5 months, their mother introduces them to meat and begins teaching them how to hunt , but she still handles the actual kills.

Independence and Survival

By the time the cubs reach 14 months, they are ready to leave their mother's care. The males typically stay together in a coalition, while the females spread out and establish their own territories.

Despite their newfound independence, they are not fully grown until around 2 years old, and it takes years of practice before they are proficient hunters. For cheetah cubs, surviving the first few months is only the beginning, and the odds are always stacked against them.

In recent years, illegal wildlife trade and other human pressures have further reduced the cheetah population, making conservation efforts even more crucial. Organizations like the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) are working tirelessly to combat illegal activities and ensure that cheetah cubs can continue to grow and thrive in the wild.

Surviving the wild as a cheetah is a constant battle, and witnessing an mature cheetah's grace and agility in the wild is a testament to their strength and resilience!