The stunning photographs show a cheetah taking it easy – despite attracting the attention of a herd of curious giraffes.
The cheetah was spotted relaxing in Kenya’s Masai Mara on Saturday by wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein.
At first, he spotted only the giraffes, but then noticed the female cheetah, named Musiara, who was apparently having a restful weekend.
The female cheetah was spotted relaxing in Kenya’s Masai Mara on Saturday by wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein
At first, Mr Goldstein spotted only the giraffes, but then noticed the female cheetah, named Musiara, relaxing on a mound
‘The joy of a really fertile wildlife area like the Olare Conservancy in the Masai Mara is that even after many, many game drives, it still has the potency to suprise,’ the Wimbledon-based photographer said.
‘A giraffe in the sunrise is always a decent start to the day in the bush, but this pastel opening gave no indication of what would ensue. We left them and found a favourite Conservancy cheetah named Musiara.
‘She was hungry, but seemingly lazy, and after getting spotted by her potential quarry, she flopped down in the middle of the sun-baked plains.’
‘The collective term for giraffes is a ‘journey’ and soon the ones from dawn were joined by a number of others.’
Despite attracting the attention of a herd of giraffes, the cheetah – named Musiara – continued relaxing on the grassy mound
The Wimbledon-based photographer, said there were just a few giraffes at first, but then they were joined by others
The giraffes spotted the cheetah and inquisitively approached, he said.
‘Being a Conservancy with few vehicles and off road driving permitted we were able to line them up,’ Mr Goldstein added.
‘I was not expecting them to come so close even though they are in no danger from a female feline of this spotted denomination, but they like to keep any predator in view.
‘The collective term for giraffes is a ‘journey’ and soon the ones from dawn were joined by a number of others,’ he said
Mr Goldstein, who was working as a guide for Exodus Travels, said he was surprised the giraffes got so close to the cheetah
‘Though they’re in no danger from a female feline of this spotted denomination, they like to keep any predator in view,’ he said
The cheetah captured in the photographs has given birth to three litters in seven years and is an accomplished hunter
‘Before long there was a considerable ‘neckline’ of them and these skinny sentinels spent a while studying the indifferent animal.
He added that the cheetah captured in the photographs has given birth to three litters in seven years.
‘She is an accomplished hunter but this, despite what it may appear, would always be eyes bigger than stomach,’ he said.
‘Eventually with the cheetah almost catatonic, the giraffes moved off: Journey’s End.’
Mrl Goldstein was guiding from Kicheche Bush Camp, one of a series of Eco camps he co-owns in Kenya and for Exodus Travels.
‘She is an accomplished hunter but this, despite what it may appear, would always be eyes bigger than stomach,’ he said
The giraffes eventually moved away from the area, although the cheetah remained in an ‘almost catatonic’ state, he added