Dr. Phil Zeltzman’s Blog
The Cheetah’s Breakfast
| I was very fortunate to recently visit South Africa and Zimbabwe after a veterinary conference. Since 100% of the pet owners we meet are animal lovers, I thought I would share some information and pictures about his incredible trip. |
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the parched South African bush as our safari jeep crept along a dirt road.
The air was thick with anticipation, every sense heightened in search of elusive wildlife.
Suddenly, our tracker raised a hand, signaling silence.
A few feet ahead, completely hidden by leafless bushes, we eventually recognized the unmistakable silhouette of a cheetah.
Her sleek, muscular body lay close to the ground, head bent down as it feasted on the lifeless form of a young gazelle.
This was a rare find!
This was obviously an incredible discovery made by our tracker.
We approached cautiously, keeping a respectful distance.
The cheetah was entirely focused, tearing into the gazelle with efficiency, each rip of her teeth reminding us of the raw survival instinct governing life here.
It was hard to watch as animal lovers, yet captivating and exceptional.
Our cheetah paused, lifting her head to scan her surroundings with piercing amber eyes, mouth streaked red.
The powerful predator looked more magnificent up close than I could have ever imagined, a blend of grace, innocence and ferocity.
As we watched in complete disbelief, the bush was hushed, except for the occasional crunch and pull of the cheetah’s meal.
The scene felt both brutal and beautiful. It’s the circle of life. No gazelles, no cheetahs…
After a few minutes, the cheetah looked up again, locking eyes with us.
We felt like intruders in a private ritual.
The cheetah resumed her feast, undisturbed by our presence, while we sat in quiet awe, touched by the primal intimacy of witnessing one of Earth’s most powerful hunters in its element.
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Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ, Fear Free Certified
Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling veterinary surgeon in Pennsylvania & New Jersey. An award-winning author, he loves to share his adventures in practice along with information about vet medicine and surgery that can really help your pets. Dr. Zeltzman specializes in orthopedic, neurologic, cancer, and soft tissue surgeries for dogs, cats, and small exotics. By working with local family vets, he offers the best surgical care, safest anesthesia, and utmost pain management to all his patients. Sign up to get an email when he updates his blog, and follow him on Facebook, too!