112-117 Doug Steakley-AFRICA_Feature 4/22/13 8:20 PM Page 1
AContinent
in Transition
Local Photographer Douglas Steakley
Documents The Disappearing Wildlife of Africa
T E X T A N D P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y D O U G L A S S T E A K L E Y
MOTHER AND BABY CHEETAH
MASAI MARA RESERVE, KENYA
Cheetahs have litters of four to five cubs but this mother had only one. Unfortunately
the mothers have to leave their babies behind when they go hunting and the young
ones are vulnerable to numerous predators. We assumed that the other cubs in this
litter had been killed and soon became aware that this remaining young one stayed
very close to his or her mother. We were able to follow and observe them as they
tracked a small herd of Thomson's gazelles and when they climbed onto this termite
mound for better visibility they formed this beautiful image.
