HOME Blog This Week at Angama #295

This Week at Angama #295

And then there was one... as we grapple with a devastating loss, others in the Mara are enjoying the mud baths and fresh grass the rains bring
Above: It's playtime
Above: It's playtime

Leopards have similar mating rituals to lions — lasting up to five days and mating approximately every 15 minutes for only a few seconds. This week, we saw Osidai and Nakwet together but what's unusual about this pair is that we have observed them mating for over a month, well over the expected period.

F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel

Mating, or 'jiggy jiggy' as we call it, starts fairly calmly with soft growls as the female approaches the male entering his personal space and starts seducing him by rubbing her tail over him. As the copulation initiates, he bites the nape of her neck — an act to ensure her submission. The male’s penis is barbed, a trait found in most felines, which helps induce ovulation in females.

F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel

However, as he withdraws, it becomes painful and in this instance Nawket spun around, lashing out with her sharp claws aimed at his face. Anticipating this, Osidai leapt away and moved off as she flopped over and rolled on her back. We're hoping all of this prolonged action will produce some beautiful new cubs as we have not seen one of our favourite leopards, Nadallah, in quite some time and are beginning to fear the worst.

F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/2500, ISO 3200 | Robert Sayialel

In last week's blog, we reported that Risasi’s boys had eventually separated from their mother, the two being alone for the first time after 16 months under her care. Cheetahs have the lowest survival rate of all cats and with the odds stacked against them in the challenge for resources, when you see one in the wild, you know it's a true survivor.

F 6.3, 1/400, ISO 100 | Arrie Arora
F 6.3, 1/400, ISO 100 | Arrie Arora

Sadly, on 27 September, the Mara Conservancy, in conjunction with vets from David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service rangers, reported the death of one of the boys. In their report, they indicated that the two brothers were hunting when one of the boys got a spinal injury with a penetrating puncture wound going all the way through to the thoracic cavity. This caused a pneumothorax, haemorrhage and collapse of the lungs — resulting in his death shortly after the injury. This is a terrible loss and even more so for the remaining lone brother. His chance of survival now, solo and at such a young age, is very slim.

Phone photograph shared by Mara Guides
Phone photograph shared by Mara Guides

Female cheetahs lead mostly solitary lives, unlike the males who prefer living in set territories and in small coalitions. Recently separating from her boys, Risasi was seen successfully taking down a baby Thomson's gazelle by herself and chowing down on it fairly quickly, so as not to attract unwanted attention. Knowing what and when to hunt has made this lone female a very successful predator. Perhaps she will mate again soon and grace us with another litter of cubs.

F 11, 1/800, ISO 800 | Sophie Musuni
F 11, 1/800, ISO 800 | Sophie Musuni
F 11, 1/800, ISO 800 | Sophie Musuni
F 11, 1/800, ISO 800 | Sophie Musuni

In more cheetah headlines, there is a new male in the Triangle spotted by our beloved guest, Katie Brauer. This solitary, fairly young male, came from the Serengeti and was seen in the Sausage Tree Pride territory. Hopefully, the odds here will be in his favour and he'll stay in the Triangle.

F 7.1, 1/640, ISO 320 | Katie Brauer
F 7.1, 1/640, ISO 320 | Katie Brauer

Speaking of the Sausage Tree Pride, they appear to be thriving. The pride is now 11-strong with the addition of the two Lamai males providing them with protection. At the moment, Kinky Tail is still keeping apart from the pride while she mates with one of the males.

F 14, 1/400, ISO 1250 | Robert Sayialel
F 14, 1/400, ISO 1250 | Robert Sayialel
F 8, 1/400, ISO 640 | Katie Brauer
F 8, 1/400, ISO 640 | Katie Brauer
F 8, 1/1000, ISO 1600 | Robert Sayialel