Cheetah: The Maasai Brotherhood

Born of three different mothers, the Tana Bora are a brotherhood of five cheetah males bonded in purpose rather than genetics. As the weakest of the large predators, cheetah males have a better chance of survival if they work in unison to defend territory. This way they are able to defend areas for longer and increase their chances of mating with the females that move through their domain. But the Maasai Mara, even as a cheetah paradise, has never seen such a formidable coalition before. So confident are the five males that they even defy the rules of being a diurnal species and operate after dark, taking down prey and defending themselves and their winnings from the hyenas and lions, known to be their sworn enemies. Their territory lies in the north-eastern section of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and is bisected by the Talek River which poses an obstacle to traverse when the rains come.

Until now, the Tana Bora have seen several migration seasons come and go and they dominate the hunting scene at these times, working as a team and bringing down imposing prey such as wildebeest, zebra and buffalo. The oldest male d’Artagnan, easily recognisable because of the research collar around his neck, is slightly more dominant than the others. But relationships are fraught, and regular skirmishes sometimes result in a member being isolated and vulnerable to the dangers of a wilderness filled with powerful enemies.