Ketsweri's cubs didn't survive

After Ketweri (our female cheetah) cubs were born the reserve warden on Karongwe game reserve decided to close the area so she could be left alone for a few weeks with no disturbance.



On day five we notice she left the area where the den site is. This is normal if she is hungry and needs to find food. But on the 11th day she still didnt return to the den site to feed her cubs and I realized the cubs have died. I went back to the den site to investigate and found some hyena tracks in the area. The lions have also moved thru the area while we were tracking them. It is possible that either the hyenas or lions picked up her smell and found her den site. When this happens the lions or hyenas will kill the cheetahs cubs. They are competition for each other. It is sad but it is nature. It was her first time she had cubs so hopefully next time her cubs will survive.


Rene van Eeden, RSA, Expedition Manager

Ketsweri's cubs didn't survive