The evening before we were due to leave back to the North side of the Mara we were keen to try and find Shingo and her 6 cubs again. Fortunately it did not take too long to find them but unfortunately they were still in an area that was really not the best place for them to be. They were just a few kilometres from Talek town and hemmed in between some of the Olkiombo lions and the area where cattle have been coming into the reserve to graze at night. They had moved a little further into the reserve which was good but we still hoped soon they would move away from where they were as it was really not ideal cheetah territory. Overnight many more Zebras had appeared (Loita Herds) so the plains above Fig Tree Lodge was now dotted with many more plains game and probably one reason that the some of the Olkiombo lions had suddenly reappeared and crossed back from the North side of the river.
It was again cloudy and relatively cool so they were fairly active and ‘played’ around a lugga, inaccessible to cars, (with Cheetahs we cant help feeling this is usually a good thing as not all drivers/guides have ‘ethics’ when it comes to approaching animals!) While watching them we saw them trying to catch a scrub hare, but with no luck, all the same it was good hunting practice for the cubs.
It was not long until all of a sudden we saw the cubs dart across the plains on a mission that was a little more serious, with Shingo in tow at the end of the long line of cheetah. She was clearly trying to get them to take more control and learn vital hunting skills that will be crucial for their survival. By now there were a few more vehicles present and everyone was agasp as they moved with lightening speed after a tiny Impala fawn that had suddenly appeared with its mother from over the brow of the hill.
They carried on, slowing a little, then up and over the hill, weaving across the uneven ground that was heavily populated with Croton thickets. Zebras darted away as the Cheetahs were on a mission. We all soon lost sight of the cheetahs so we moved to then find them still chasing on the other side of the hill, having by now moved a serious distance. They must have now chased for at least 1.5km from where they had started. Incredible for an animal that can run fast but not for prolonged distances. Although not running at full speed due to the terrain and distance you could see the cheetahs and indeed the fawn were starting to tire as they weaved around the bushes still, neither the cubs or fawn relenting.
Then they all stopped abruptly as they successfully cornered the fawn, it now found itself in the middle of 7 Cheetahs. The cubs clearly lacked the experience or confidence to finish what they had started. As the fawn stood in the group of cheetahs some of the cubs ‘playfully’ nibbled at the the Fawns neck as it stood there. They had their quarry, now what to do? Shingo still refused to intervene. It was a surreal moment and had the light not been fading fast and the cloud increasing it would have been one of those awesome photographic moments! Although we still managed to take a few shots. Given the fawn was so far away from its mother we now hoped that the Cheetahs would now dispatch the fawn quickly, after all it would now not survive, even if it got away from the young spotty gang. It would also be good to see the cheetahs get much needed nourishment after so much energy had been expounded.
The fawn took advantage of the Cheetahs in-decsion and inexperience and darted off again, until again it was cornered near another bush. However, the chase and occaisonal bleats of the fawn had alerted two Spotted Hyenas who without hesitation moved in to the scene to see what was ‘up for grabs’. At this point the Cheetahs, including Shingo then rushed away, suddenly the fawn was no longer the priority as the Hyena approached. The fawn, by this point was hiding in a tiny thicket. No one so far had managed to catch the fawn.
For a few moments the cubs, with bristled fur and defensive posture stood facing the Hyena. Shingo carefully but confidently moved them away, but still only 20 metres or so from the Fawn, they had unfinished business. With that the Hyena seemingly went out of sight of the Cheetah and the vehicles.
When it seemed that the Hyena had relentented Shingo and cubs gingerly went back toward the bush they had left the fawn .By now everyone just wanted it to end, the Cheetahs needed food, the fawn was not going to survive, so best for all that it ended sooner rather than later. Within moments of them approaching the bush the Hyena suddenly appeared again. Except this time in a flash it grabbed the fawn and ran off away from the Cheetah, darting past our vehicle in the process. So the suffering ended for the fawn but the cheetahs faced an night without food. Clearly there is more work to be done for the Cheetahs to home their hunting skills.
By this point is was not far from getting dark so the Cheetahs moved away from the area with some purpose, they could hear the bells of the cattle arriving so they needed to find somewhere safe to ‘bed’ for the night. Another failed hunt for the Cheetah, but in the process another valuable hunting lesson.
We left the Cheetah and went to see the Hyena that had captured the fawn, within what seemed seconds the Fawn was ‘gone’. It was fascinating to watch how quickly it had devoured the fawn. It was indeed a real shame that having worked so hard Shingo and Co were left hungry again. However, the fawn had not 'perished in vain' and had at least given the Hyena a good feed, even if he did not have to work too hard on this occasion. It’s often seen that the Hyena are the ‘bad guys’ (We blame the ‘Lion King’!) but it really is unfair title to bestow on them, even if during this sighting it seemed so unfortunate that the Cheetah lost their meal to a Hyena.
So sadly tonight was not the night for a successful hunt for Shingo and Co, but it was a truly amazing sighting and one that neither of us will forget! Fingers crossed that tomorrow brings a better day for them all and that they get some decent nourishment and manage to move to a more suitable area.
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