The Capture
Lewa Downs
Kenya
East Africa
One minute after the chase scene in my previous image, the two young cheetahs captured their prey. This was a learning experience for them, and their mother did not interfere.
The two young cheetahs were not very experienced in the art of the kill. Once they caught the impala, they did not really know how to deal the death blow. Usually, large cats go for the throat right away in a pursuit, but cheetahs do not do this. Instead, they will first run up to the animal and knock it over; then, they will suffocate their prey by clamping down on the throat. The young cheetahs tried several times to knock the hind legs out from under the impala before it was caught.
Once a cheetah has subdued the prey, it may begin eating it before it is dead. This is to reduce the chances of a scavenger, such as a hyena, or a larger big cat like a lion coming along and robbing the cheetah of the prize it worked so hard to win.
The Capture
Lewa Downs
Kenya
East Africa
One minute after the chase scene in my previous image, the two young cheetahs captured their prey. This was a learning experience for them, and their mother did not interfere.
The two young cheetahs were not very experienced in the art of the kill. Once they caught the impala, they did not really know how to deal the death blow. Usually, large cats go for the throat right away in a pursuit, but cheetahs do not do this. Instead, they will first run up to the animal and knock it over; then, they will suffocate their prey by clamping down on the throat. The young cheetahs tried several times to knock the hind legs out from under the impala before it was caught.
Once a cheetah has subdued the prey, it may begin eating it before it is dead. This is to reduce the chances of a scavenger, such as a hyena, or a larger big cat like a lion coming along and robbing the cheetah of the prize it worked so hard to win.