Cheetahs are known for their distinctive black spots, but a rare sighting has defied expectations. For the first time in nearly 100 years, a cheetah without its traditional markings has been found in the wild.
After hearing about its existence through multiple reports, British wildlife photographer Guy Combes, originally from Dorset, embarked on a mission to locate the elusive animal.
He eventually succeeded, using a Land Rover and even a plane to cover 100,000 acres of land in Kenya.
Combes, 41, managed to get within 50 yards of the cheetah, which had a sandy-colored coat with small freckles on its back but no typical black spots. According to experts, the last recorded sighting of a spotless cheetah dates back to 1921.
This rare genetic variation might benefit the cheetah in the wild, as some believe it could be mistaken for a lion.
Combes, describing the excitement of the encounter, said, “After days of searching, I didn’t expect to find it, but on the last morning, a pilot helping me spotted it. I rushed over and found the cheetah alongside its mother, who had regular spots.” He added, “It was an incredible experience—one of the biggest rushes of my life.”
Combes discovered the cheetah in the Athi Kapiti Conservancy in Kenya. Experts believe the cheetah’s unique appearance is due to a genetic mutation that causes the unusual patterns on the ‘King’ cheetah of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Big cat consultant Danny Nineham confirmed the rarity of the sighting, noting, “To my knowledge, a cheetah-like this hasn’t been seen since 1921.”
He explained that such genetic mutations occur naturally and can help animals like lions and pumas survive in the wild, suggesting the same could apply to this cheetah.
John Pullen, a curator at Marwell Zoo, commented on the cheetah’s genetic makeup, stating, “This rare variation is likely due to a change in the genetic coding responsible for its usual patterning. It’s always fascinating to see these kinds of natural occurrences.”
The discovery of this spotless cheetah marks a significant moment for wildlife photography and conservation, with Combes and experts alike marveling at the beauty and rarity of this unusual animal.
Read more Wildlife News.