Animal Facts: Cheetah Newborns' Distinctive Coats

Between January and March of this year in Tanzania, we saw many cheetahs with young cubs. In the Ngorongoro Crater, a mother and her three cubs passed right behind our vehicle allowing us an excellent look at the cubs' distinctive coats. The fur of newborn cheetahs is dark grey and what will be its adult spots are barely distinguishable. In addition, a heavy golden-grey mantle runs the length of their bodies over the darker fur. This extra layer provides camouflage when mother hides them in shadowy places, protection against rain and the sun, and the disguise of a honey badger, a vicious little animal that is left alone by most other predators. Despite this help from nature, cub mortality from predators during the first weeks of its life can be as high as ninety percent. Mother cheetahs must leave their babies alone when they hunt, and even though they move the cubs from den to den every few days they are still vulnerable to detection by enemies. The cubs only begin to follow their mothers at six weeks of age. When you see mantled cubs with their mothers, you know they must be at least six weeks of age or they wouldn't be out of hiding.

29-08-2008