An Irish tourist had a far-too-close encounter with a young cheetah in Kenya recently. The Telegraph reports:
The bold creature got up close and personal with Mickey McCaldin, baring its teeth just inches from his face. Family friend David Horsey captured the tense standoff between the pair.
David, 62, from Mombasa, Kenya, said: "I've been living in Kenya all my life and I've never seen anything like this.
"At first Mickey was really relaxed but I think he was quite concerned it might try and sit in his lap. Unlike a domestic cat, you certainly don't want that."
(Click the image for a larger view. I love the look on his face!)
David captured the pictures last month as the group tracked a well-known family of cheetahs, whose mother is called Malaika.
Having followed them for a couple of days previously, they observed that the family hadn't had a kill for a few days.
David said: "The family had been looking for a gazelle for a few days with no luck.
"As we'd been around for a couple of days, I think they were used to the jeep so the mum jumped on top to get a better view.
"I think the other cheetah tried to follow her up but went a different way.
"Once it had got bored of Mickey it turned away and looked out of the vehicle for a few minutes.
"It just jumped out afterwards."
There's more at the link.
Instant cure for constipation, coming right up!
Peter
I respectfully disagree with the idea that such an encounter would be a "instant cure for constipation." I know if I were in that situation, it would probably take the better part of a week for the pucker-factor to wear off! ;-)
ReplyDeleteTwo thoughts come to mind: 1) I bet he really wishes he hadn't left his laser pointer at home (cat's love to chase the little red dot), and 2) F@#$ THAT!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing just how much like a domestic cat cheetahs really are. Of course it's probably not a good idea to have one sitting on your lap... A domestic cat will shred your arm when it gets bored of you, a cheetah...
ReplyDeleteIt looks so thin, probably because cheetahs never prosper.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame the safari tour drivers cannot just put idiots like that off on the side of the road. Pour encourager les autres.
ReplyDelete"Keep your windows rolled up and all door locked" is not just something they dreamed up to fill in time between "Look over there! It's an animal!"
stay safe.