At first glance, this image seems like a typical scene from the Masai Mara plains in Kenya, with Thomson’s gazelles grazing peacefully against a stunning backdrop.
But there’s more than meets the eye—a predator lurks in the grass, blending into its surroundings.
Looking closely, you’ll notice a well-camouflaged cheetah stalking its prey from behind. This captivating shot, featuring the big cat and its eventual chase, was captured by wildlife photographer Richard Costin, who had been tracking the predator for several days.
Richard Costin, 32, from Kent, shared his experience: “The cheetah stopped in its tracks, staring intently into the distance.
Luckily, the gazelles had wandered into tall grass, giving the cheetah about five minutes to stealthily approach them before making its move.”
Though the cheetah’s hunt was successful, its victory was short-lived. Less than an hour after the kill, a hyena arrived and chased the cheetah away from its meal.
Costin, who leads photography workshops in the Masai Mara, explained, “We had watched it attempt a few unsuccessful hunts before this. This time, it managed to catch one of the gazelles.”
Cheetahs are known for their vulnerability after a kill. Costin noted, “Cheetahs have to eat as quickly as possible after a kill because, once other animals catch wind of it, something stronger often shows up—like a hyena in this case. Even vultures can drive a cheetah away.”
The cheetah dragged the carcass into longer grass for some cover while eating to avoid losing its prey too soon.
The cheetah is the fastest land animal, accelerating from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just three seconds.
It can reach a top speed of 70-75 mph (112-120 km/h), but only in short bursts, covering up to 1,600 feet (500 meters).
This incredible display of camouflage and hunting skills is reminiscent of another big cat—the elusive snow leopard.
Yesterday, photos revealed how hard it is to spot a snow leopard as it blended perfectly into a mountain landscape of rock and shale.
Wildlife photographer David Jenkins, 41, braved freezing temperatures below minus 20°C to capture rare glimpses of the endangered animal.
Read more Wildlife News.