Built for breathtaking speed, cheetahs have long been portrayed as solitary hunters, relying on stealth, precision and explosive acceleration to bring down their prey. But across Africa, that familiar image is beginning to shift. As competition intensifies and predator numbers increase, cheetahs are revealing a new survival strategy: working together.
Recent research suggests that cheetahs are increasingly forming coalitions – small groups that are better equipped to cope with tougher conditions. At Ol Pejeta, where predator densities are high and prey availability fluctuates with the seasons, these coalitions can offer clear advantages over a solitary lifestyle for the world’s fastest land animal.
Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in just three seconds! Yet speed alone is not always enough. For a cheetah hunting on its own, making a kill is only half the battle. With so many competing carnivores on the landscape, stolen kills are a constant threat. Lions and hyenas frequently force cheetahs to abandon their prey before they have recovered the energy spent during the chase. This is especially challenging for males defending territories and for females raising cubs.
On the open grasslands of Ol Pejeta, a new chapter in cheetah survival is unfolding. Recent sighting records suggest there are currently between 10 and 15 cheetahs on the conservancy. These cats range widely across the landscape, using wildlife corridors to extend their movements into neighbouring areas such as Mutara and other parts of Laikipia. Studies have also shown that cheetahs are frequently found in wetland areas along the river, while actively steering clear of hyena den sites and the territories of resident lion prides.
These remarkable cats, so often defined by speed and solitude, are demonstrating that adaptability and cooperation also play a vital role in survival. Coalitions may never replace the iconic image of the lone sprinter, but they add an important new dimension to the cheetah’s story, highlighting how even highly specialised hunters can adjust when conditions become more demanding.
Big cats such as lions, cheetahs and leopards play a crucial role in their natural landscapes. Often described as keystone or indicator species, their presence reflects a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Cheetahs are particularly important in regulating populations of smaller herbivores such as Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, Grant’s gazelles and dik-diks. By keeping these numbers in check, cheetahs help prevent overgrazing and protect valuable grasslands.
If working together helps cheetahs survive in an increasingly competitive world, the planet’s fastest land animal may yet outrun the threats facing its future. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience wildlife continues to show in a changing climate – and here at Ol Pejeta, we are proud to watch, learn from and support that journey.