Kisaru
My first ever visit to the Masai Mara, the sprawling Savannah of Africa, unfolded unexpectedly, leaving me with a tragic heroic tale etched in my heart. Little did I anticipate that this vast landscape would give me a narrative so intimate, which will become deeply personal chapter to me.
Sighting cheetahs was the high point for me throughout my trip to Africa but encountering Kisaru in Masai Mara, a cheetah with her cub, was a truly exceptional moment.
I witnessed the tender moment between mother and cub – cuddling, grooming, and eventually, the cub succumbing to sleep in that innocent way only the baby does knowing its mother stands guard.
Observed them roaming around together from one end to another in search of prey, cub like an obedient kid following her mother like a shadow, knowing precisely when to hide and how to magically appear out of nowhere.
I cherished every precious moment I spent with them and captured their everyday marvel in my camera.
Sometime mother would sleep mid air and abruptly waking to scan the horizon for any hint of danger, and then effortlessly go back to sleep again.
In those quiet moments of waking, stretching, and yawning, the agile contours of her body revealed the inherent grace and beauty of this endangered cat.
I had the luck of witnessing Kisaru’s daily hunts, her successful pursuits and moments where the prey managed to slip away. It was a raw display of survival in the wild.
Despite a successful hunt, a hearty meal for Cheetahs is never guaranteed. Hyneas and Jackals often lurk around to steal their food and since they work in packs, Cheetah is forced to abandon their prized meal.
At my first encounter, Kisaru, a seasoned hunter, displayed an air of urgency. It had been a while since her last successful catch and she had hungry mouth to feed. She utilised all her skills—experience, camouflage, precision, and, of course, her remarkable speed. Yet, even with her best efforts, the prey proved elusive.
As the day neared its end, Kisaru and her cub walked beneath the fading sun. Bathed in golden light, their fur glimmered, agile contours of their bodies created a breathtaking scene in the vast grasslands of the Savannah. Seated side by side, they gazed across the horizon, determined to see another day in wild.
Cheetahs are primarily diurnal hunters. They often hunt in the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler. The low temperatures during these times help cheetahs conserve energy and maintain their incredible speed during pursuits.
As the dawn broke we headed out to position ourselves near Kisaru anticipating the inevitable hunt.
As we spotted Kisaru, she was in the midst of stalking a Gazelle with an Impala nearby. Patiently, she waited, strategising and evaluating her options. Considering her unsuccessful attempt at a Gazelle the previous day, we assumed she might go after the Impala. But, oh boy, how wrong we were! With unimaginable stealth and speed she sprinted towards the Gazelle and the entire spectacle was over in less than 10 seconds, leaving us in awe of her hunting prowess.
Later in the day we found mother and cub nestled together under the shade, peacefully asleep with contented, bulging tummies.
The following day, as we ventured through the savannah, we encountered Kisaru and her cub, discreetly capturing fleeting moments of their lives through our cameras. But little I knew in that moment, looking back those pictures would make my heart so heavy.
On the second-to-last day of our safari, early in the morning, we noticed hyenas and jackals near Kisaru and her cub. Although the cub seemed alert and a bit aggressive, there was no conflict from Kisaru but who knows better than mother cheetah that odds are always stacked against them – lions ruthlessly claim their cubs without apparent reasons, while Hyneas and Jackals would go to any extent to steal their hard-earned food.
The current population of cheetahs in Masai Mara stands at less than 80, a stark figure that speaks volumes about the challenges they face and their endangered status.
Meanwhile, we received news of a lion pride approaching a small group of buffalo, prompting us to quickly steer our vehicle towards that scene.
During our breakfast, we witnessed Kisaru making a successful kill of a fawn. Observing them as minuscule dots far on the horizon prompted contemplation about the jungle’s unwritten laws, where every being is solely for themselves, and survival is the essence of their existence. It was a stark reminder of the realities of life in the wild.
On my last evening in Mara, I encountered Kisaru and her cub once more, sharing moments that, at first glance, seemed ordinary but was filled with profound love and care.
Kisaru, driven by the instinct to hunt again, sought opportunities, however, with no visible prey in sight she retreated for the night, unaware that there would be no tomorrow for her.
In the final morning safari, a somber scene unfolded as hyenas and vultures were scavenging a carcass. As we moved closer to inspect, it was revealed to be the half-eaten lifeless body of a cheetah.
The absence of any other cheetah in the area made it clear that Kisaru became prey sometime during the night.
Cheetahs, known for their speed, can usually outrun their predators. Kisaru sacrificed her life valiantly protecting her cub who was now nowhere in sight.
It is yet to be established whether it was lions or hyneas, who claimed her.
As wildlife enthusiasts and photographers we connect with our subjects on a very different note and their journey becomes a part of us. Even though I was an outsider in Kisaru’s life, her loss felt remarkably personal.
On the morning I left Serengeti for Mara, I received news that my four-legged baby, our beloved dog, whom we very lovingly come to called Google had passed away in the silent hours of the night. While saying goodbye to Kisaru in Mara, I couldn’t help but reflect on the parallel occurrence of these two tragedies.
Kisaru came to fame when she successfully raised her 8 cubs to adulthood, a rare achievement for any Cheetah. In her final litter, only one cub survived, for whom she fearlessly fought.
My last update revealed that cub was spotted wandering alone, calling out for its mother. Later in the day, rangers were able to rescue him and now will be kept in an enclosure near Mara Triangle till he is an adult.
I am determined to remain hopeful that he will be reintroduced into the wild, carrying forward the great legacy of Kisaru.
Unknowingly becoming a part of Kisaru’s life in her final hours has left me deeply saddened. The profound wisdom in these words helping me cope with this tragedy.
“Nature is monumentally indifferent. It’s neither cruel nor kind, neither good nor evil but simply callous-indifferent to all sufferings.”
