Yesterday we were out looking for lions with the film crew that are staying with us at the moment, and we heard a strange noise. At first we thought it was a bird, but we followed the sound and as we got closer we discovered it was a cheetah, walking around on the plains and making such a loud noise!
We couldn’t tell if it was a male or female and wondered whether it was a mother looking for her cubs. After a while we saw there was another cheetah in the area too – perhaps they were mating. The film crew were recording the cheetah’s sounds – you can listen to them by clicking on the link below.
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The cheetahs were very close to some bomas, and were making a very loud noise, so I hope they did not attract too much attention from livestock owners in the area.
Actually, I have heard cheetahs make that vocalization. When I was a volunteer at the National Zoo we had a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cheetah Conservation Station and heard them making a few vocalizations. Not at all a roaring noise, is it?
s.
The rattling sound is not unlike the sound my cat makes when it sees a bird – and the other call, when it wants attention!
Cheetahs do make the strangest sounds, don’t they?
Our Colobus here in Diani do not vocalise as commonly as their up country cousins. Theoretically because of their low energy food source and therefore energy budget. But when they do vocalise with more than a “lip-smack” they make the most phenomenal sound. Something like a motorbike failing to start, crossed with a clucking chicken! This usually occurs when there is a terrestrial threat and the Sykes monkeys understand it too!
I wonder what the Cheetah was trying to communicate?
Gwili
yes!it makes the highest sound.i love to volenter at the zoo.thats when i heard one.