Watch a Cheetah Mother Teach Her Cubs How to Hunt Using a Baby Impala!

Talk about some quality family bonding! Watch the video below, which shows an adult cheetah showing her cubs how to hunt. 

Watch the Speedy Mother Cheetah Here!

The clip was taken in the Mara Triangle Conservancy in Kenya, and it starts by showing a mother cheetah with her cubs surrounding a young impala. The impala appears to be injured and exhausted, and it will likely become the family’s next meal. 

With a burst of a second wind, the Impala begins sprinting away, only to have the family follow in fast pursuit. The young cheetah cubs lose interest quickly, but the mother is invested in teaching them how to hunt. With incredible speed, the mother catches up to the Impala and tackles it to the ground. The cubs once again gain interest as their mom helps them drag away the catch. 

Once again, the impala tries to make a getaway, but the mother quickly stops it again. The video ends shortly after this, leaving the viewer to wonder if the cubs have truly learned their hunting lesson! 

Do Cheetah Cubs Hunt on Their Own?

In contrast to the majestic and powerful appearance of adult cheetahs, cubs can look rather cat-like, which leads many to wonder if they can hunt on their own. Don’t be fooled by their cuddly appearance. Cheetah cubs are still top-tier predators who will eventually hunt large game animals. 

Right after they are born, cubs aren’t equipped with all of the power and experience that they need for hunting. After a fast period of growth, they start to look more like their adult form, but they still aren’t experienced with hunting. Due to this, they will often hunt with their mother for the first 12 months of their life. This is what likely is happening in the video below. 

As soon as they gain some more confidence and experience through hunting with their mother, cubs will begin to hunt for prey of their own. Most of the time, they will hunt for small or young animals, as they are usually an easy catch! 

Cheetah Hunting 

Being an apex predators, cheetahs have a lot of characteristics and adaptations that make them incredible hunters. First of all, cheetahs have extremely sharp teeth that are specialized for grabbing onto prey and tearing off the flesh. Additionally, cheetahs also have very strong jaws and can bite with around 500 PSI of force! 

Even though cheetah spots are easy to see up close, they can act as a very effective camouflage in the savannah. Most of their natural landscape is tan and orange in color, which blends in well with their coat. Likewise, the spots break up their silhouette, which can allow them to blend into the landscape when viewed at a distance! 

Lastly, cheetahs are extremely quick, which allows them to catch up to fast-moving prey. Cheetahs hold the title of the fastest land animal. They can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour, which is an incredible feat! 

Is It Normal for Cheetahs to Eat Impala?

Cheetahs are carnivorous animals, which means that their diet consists of primarily meat. They typically feed on small to medium-sized animals such as hares, gazelles, impalas, wildebeest calves, and smaller-hoofed animals. Cheetahs also hunt larger animals, such as antelopes and water buffalo.

Cheetahs rely mostly on their speed and agility to catch their prey, and they have been known to reach speeds of up to 75 mph in pursuit of their prey. They typically hunt during the day, and they have also been known to scavenge on carrion if necessary.

It is not unusual for cheetahs to hunt and consume an Impala, as this is a common prey in their habitat. However, they have also been known to hunt and consume much larger animals, such as antelopes and wildebeest.

Cheetahs generally consume their prey quickly and do not store food for later. They will hunt and consume their prey as soon as they are able, and they have the ability to consume up to 20 pounds of meat in one sitting.