Engorged
Namibia, Africa
Cheetahs have an average hunting success rate of 40 to 50 percent. But after hunting cheetahs usually are exhausted and have to rest a while before eating. This is a serious disadvantage, as other carnivores may come and steal the kill. Most other carnivores are larger, stronger, and can outnumber the cheetahs, so they are forced to surrender their kill about 10-15% of the time.
Juveniles and adult males eat quickly on the spot of the kill before it can be stolen. Female cheetahs, in contrast, spend their time on alert looking out for other predators while giving their cubs time to eat. Lions kill cheetahs if given the chance, and predators take over half their young in the first 3 months. Cub mortality is higher in protected areas like Etosha National Parks in Namibia, where this image was made. In these areas, the concentration of large predators is greater than in non-protected areas.
Repeatedly encouraged by its mother, this cub ate rather quickly and became so engorged that it went over to rest in the shade of a tree. It was in obvious discomfort, waddling as it walked. Fortunately, other than a pesky jackal, no other predators were around and its mother and sibling got their fill as well. Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.
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