I often sit with cheetahs for hours at Mugie Conservancy, letting the late afternoon sun paint the savanna gold. Over time, you notice the subtle details – the ripple of muscles beneath tight skin, the way a tail flicks ever so slightly before a sudden sprint; the soft chirps a mother gives her cubs to keep them close.
Ryan Smart spends time with Mugie’s cheetah brothers
Yet, despite all the quiet observations, what never ceases to take my breath away is the sheer elegance of the cheetah. They move with precision and grace through the tawny grasses – a living, breathing demonstration of biomechanics and evolution. Every step is calculated, every movement fluid. Watching them is like seeing a masterclass of survival written across muscle, sinew, and instinct.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on Earth, capable of reaching bursts of 100 -120 km/h. But speed comes at a cost. To become lightning on legs, they have sacrificed bulk and strength. Their slender frame, long limbs, and light bones make them agile hunters but leave them vulnerable to larger predators.
In the evolutionary problem-solving game of Africa, a cheetah’s challenges are clear:
Problem 1: Lions, leopards, and hyenas are stronger and more aggressive. Solution: Hunt during the day.
Cheetahs became specialists in daylight hunting. While the heavyweights of Africa sleep off their nightly exploits, cheetahs rule out the sunlit hours. Even their distinctive black “tear marks” beneath the eyes serve as natural sunshades, reducing glare and helping them spot prey from afar. They often use elevated positions such as termite mounds to spot prey up to 5km in the open savannah.
Problem 2: Bringing down a large antelope is difficult with limited strength. Solution: Focus on smaller, faster prey.
Thomson’s and Grants gazelles, impala, dik-diks and steenbok are their preferred meals here on Mugie – targets too fast or elusive for the more powerful predators. Yet, when necessity arises, cheetahs can cooperate. This is where male coalitions come in, a rare strategy in the feline world. Males form coalitions with their brothers; however, in some cases, they will even tolerate a male who is not a blood relative into their coalition, allowing them to take on larger prey species.
At Mugie Conservancy, our most iconic cheetahs are Chongo and Mwawili, a male coalition whose bond allows them to achieve feats a lone cheetah could not. Male cheetahs sometimes form coalitions, usually with brothers or close companions, combining their strength, skill, and knowledge of the landscape to expand and secure prime territory.
Cheetah brother, Chongo
Chongo, bold and decisive, takes the lead in hunts and patrols. Mwawili, calm and precise, complements him perfectly. Together, they are a single force in two bodies, capable of taking down larger prey such as young zebra – prey that would challenge a solitary cheetah. Watching them move in unison across the savanna is like witnessing a living strategy play out, crafted over millions of years of evolution.
Cheetah brother, Mwawili
Meanwhile, our lone adult female is teaching her two youngsters (both male sub-adults) the lessons of survival. Every stalk, every silent pause, every measured approach is a lesson in how to live and thrive in the predator-rich ecosystem of Mugie.
Cheetah cubs face daunting odds – studies show that as many as 90% of cubs may not survive to adulthood in the wild. Every success, therefore, is vital to the species’ future. The mother’s chirps guide them, her presence protects them, and her patience ensures they will one day run as gracefully and decisively as their elders.
A cheetah on Mugie Conservancy
Cheetahs are often admired for their speed, but there is so much more to these remarkable cats:
Each cheetah has a unique spot pattern
Cheetahs play a crucial role in maintaining balance in ecosystems:
At Mugie, cheetahs like Chongo and Mwawili, alongside the mother and her sub-adult cubs, are indicators of a thriving ecosystem
Chongo and Mwawili cover large ranges across Mugie Conservancy
Across Africa, only around 7,000 cheetahs remain in the wild. Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, competition from larger predators, the illegal wildlife trade and declining prey threaten their survival.
Mugie Conservancy works tirelessly to mitigate these threats:
Every cheetah on Mugie is a victory – a testament to conservation and the careful stewardship of our wild spaces.
On December 4th, we celebrate cheetahs – but we also remember how fragile their existence is. Chongo and Mwawili, the mother, and her two cubs remind us that survival requires not only speed and grace but also strategy, adaptation, and protection.
The next time you see a cheetah sprint across a savanna in a photograph or on television, remember the famous cheetah brothers of Mugie Conservancy. Remember the countless hours of patient observation. Remember the silent lessons of survival, the quiet beauty of their motion, and the fragile future we share with these remarkable animals.
By Ryan Smart, Activities Manager for Governors’ Mugie House, Laikipia.
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