This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
Maasai Mara National Reserve has witnessed a rare phenomenon - a cheetah giving birth to seven cubs.
According to Felix Migoya, secretary of East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association, the cheetah, nicknamed 'Siligi' (meaning hope in Maasai), has become a centre of attraction for the last six days.
On November 15, 2019, Siligi's cubs were discovered by local tour guides, and since then, the area has been flooded with tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the rare family.
Mr Migoya described the scene as 'breathtaking' for tourists, with the cubs appearing to be about a month old.
It's unusual for cheetahs to give birth to seven cubs, and they are highly exposed to predators from birth, making their survival even more challenging.
Despite the risks, Siligi's cubs have already escaped the claws of a lioness who preyed on them five days ago.
Maasai Mara National Reserve deputy warden Eddy Nkoitoi said his team is monitoring the movement of the cheetah and its cubs, but they can only hope that the cat family will survive the jungle law.
Mr Nkoitoi noted that cheetah cubs have a low survival rate, with only about 10 percent reaching maturity.
He added that rangers have been protecting Siligi and her cubs since they gave birth in a deserted area known as Kisincha, which is a lion's den.
However, Siligi has been moving towards Simba Lodge, and the cheetah will hopefully see one or two of her new cubs to adulthood.
