H3_W3_001

Date: 2022

Location: Masai Mara, Kenya

Did you know?

Mound-building termites are a group of termite species that live in mounds that are made of a combination of soil, termite saliva, and dung. These termites live in Africa, Australia, and South America. The mounds sometimes have a diameter of 30 metres (98 ft). Most of the mounds are in well-drained areas. Termite mounds usually outlive the colonies themselves. Sometimes other colonies, of the same or different species, occupy a mound after the original builders' deaths.

About the picture

We had been following this Cheetah for over a kilometer or so in Masai Mara last year (2022). Every few minutes, whenever there was a termite mound or a fallen branch, the Cheetah would get on top and survey the land. It was probably looking to see where the prey was located, or it was keeping an eye out for other potential predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas, or other cheetahs. Finally, the Cheetah approached this tall termite mound, jumped up in one single leap, and sat there for a long time. The Mara landscape with the lone tree and the blue skies add to the beauty of this photograph

Fun Fact

Inside each mound is a complicated and extensive system of tunnels and conduits that serve as a ventilation system for the underground nest. To get good ventilation, the termites construct several shafts leading down to the cellar located beneath the nest. The mound is built above the subterranean nest.