Kgalagadi Cheetah Sightings - CURRENT

[AstroMatt]

2012-01-10 Smith & Smit and Jocum
Btw Houmoed and Monro 07:20-11:12, they were there when I returned back down the road at 13:41. This was before the sighting of Lisette and co.

Background
Jocum is one of the collared study males. He didn't sire any cubs during G+M's study.

This was a very unusual sighting. When I arrived there were two obviously large male cheetahs (Smith and Smit) harassing a smaller cheetah. Everyone at the sighting initially thought it was a female as Smith and Smit were constantly trying to smell the genital area of the third cheetah. Obviously the collar also suggested to us all that it was a female. Names are left to right.
Smit, Smith and Jocum

Smit, Jocuma and Smith


The smaller cheetah was keeping Smith and Smit at bay, there was a lot of hissing and the odd swipe of a paw. But there were also periods that were quite relaxed and Jocum might roll around.
Jocum, Smit and Smith

Smith, Smit and Jocum

Frontal shot of Smith


Eventually they all moved into the road right underneath the car ahead of me. This is when we realised that the 3rd cheetah was actually male They stayed there for quite a while. When I returned at 13:41 they were under a nearby tree.
Jocum was showing a lot of injuries. Probably from fighting off Smith and Smit.
Side shot of Jocum


I showed these pictures to G+M in the park and they were quite surprised. They had only ever seen this behaviour once before. Then it was in an established coalition where one of the members had just been darted and fitted with a collar. I think this other similar incident was with the FourxFour 3 Males.

[AstroMatt]

2012-01-11 Caster and surviving male cub.
Auchterlonie at 12:15

I was driving north following up a leopard sighting when I passed a fresh kill lying right in the road with no animals anywhere in sight, this was at 09:16
I could just make out some puncture wounds on the neck (mostly saliva). It was so fresh that i even debated taking a loin for dinner


I decided to leave as i wanted to try and find the leopard (turned out to be Barolong).
On my return I found that the kill had been dragged into a bush and Caster and her cub were feeding on it.
Caster


Cub to the right.

[AstroMatt]

2012-01-11 Smith & Smit and Jocum
Munro at 12:25. They were there all day according to reports.

Smit, Jocum and Smith (left to right) were lying peacefully under a shady tree. G+M went out to check on them and to generally observe them after I informed them they were still together.

[AstroMatt]

2012-05-29 Charlies Angle 1 and 2012 Cubs
The are currently unidentified, I personally call them call them C40-43.
Edit October 2014: The cubs are now named: Shelly (C40), Farah (C41), Garrett (C42), Kris (C43)

A few kms north of Kaspersdraai at 09:15.

We came across 3 small cubs in the road and one on the eastern bank.



4th cub


After a few minutes mum came over the western side of the road, crossed and started walking through the veld.


The cubs followed and they walked out of sight.

[AstroMatt]

Richard Tornado and Edward Tornado
2012-05-29 - north of Munro at 15:02.

We found then lying in the shade under a tree in the river bed.
Richard Tornado was wandering around but C45 stayed sat down.

Left to right: Richard Tornado and Edward Tornado


Richard Tornado


They then both stood up and walked up the far river side.

Edward Tornado


Richard Tornado

[AstroMatt]

2012-11-12 Hanri and Monica and Corinne
Samevleoiing waterhole at 05:45.

They were walking away from the waterhole to the left of the Nossob road. They then decided to turn around and wander back for a drink. They stayed around for quite a while, walking around the water hole and generally exploring. Eventually they rested up on the dune to the left of the no entry road (the walking road).

Corinne



Monica



Hanri


Corinne, Hanri and Monica (left to right)

[AstroMatt]

2012-12-06 Simon
Samevleoiing at 13:59.

Simon had recently made a kill and was feeding on it...he looked stuffed!

[AstroMatt]

2012-12-15 Smith & Smit
North of Kamqua at 07:33

They were both sitting on top of the far ridge to the east. After quite a long wait of them not doing much they moved off east.
Smith and Smit (left to right)

[AstroMatt]

Melvin
2012-12-16 - Leeuwdril at 06:15

M+G have been unable to identify this male so far. He walked towards the waterhole from the north. He didn't stop to drink, just walked up and over the dune.

[Wanda]

Elena, and Simon and Garfunkel
22/02/2010 - 13th borehole

I came across Elena looking very interested in a herd of springbok. Her nearly grown cubs, Simon and Garfunkel, were lying flat in the Auob riverbed.




When the herd moved nearer, the cubs jumped up and ran after the springbok. One springbok, with the cubs after it, ran across the road and was tripped by Elena. What was so amazing about this incident was that Elena was perfectly placed(she did not run a step), and all she had to do was stick out her paw to trip the springbok. She then ran a few paces and caught the springbok.

Elena 'strangling' the bokkie, Simon looking on


Garfunkel, Elena behind and Simon on the right


A minute or so after this pic was taken, the cheetahs had a rest. Surprisingly, the bokkie jumped up and made a break for it. One of the cubs eventually caught the bokkie and all the cheetahs began to feed.