Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Short Grass

Not eaten for 2 days, the cheetah mother is desperate to hunt for her and her cub’s survival in the Masai Mara. She leaves the cub behind as she crouches down to hunt. As the grass is very short, she has to move very fast so as not to be spotted. She tries to kill a group of Thomson’s gazelles, but alas she is unsuccessful. She then gets up and starts walking past them to see if there is any young baby on the other side. The gazelles gather on one side of her keeping a safe distance away. Some are seen walking alongside her, in case she turns for another kill.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: Kenya
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X
Copyright: © Manoj Shah