Spiritual Forum

Hats off to this mother of four. She was spotted with her four adorable, yet energetic, cubs in the Masai Mara in Kenya.

The fluffy youngsters were in a buoyant mood when professional wildlife photographer Andy Rouse caught them in action as they raucously frolicked in the long grass.

Mum had her paws full as the cubs wrestled in the reeds, climbed up trees and leapt off rocks as she sat and dutifully watched.

Soak up the sun: A cheetah cub rears its head over a rock and appears to be basking in the day's heat in the Masai Mara

Doting mother: A cub enjoys a good clean after all that running around in the sun

Keeping vigilant: The sleek cheetah cubs sat erect in the reeds when they heard a noise

When the foursome weren’t grappling with each other they were off climbing trees, gnawing on rocks and one of the cubs even took the time to have a short sunbathe.

Another clambered all over the put-upon mum as she tried to snatch a break by lying down in the long grass.

Elsewhere, an older group of cheetahs looked less than impressed when they got caught in a mid-afternoon shower. 

It wasn’t enough to dampen their spirits though, as they shook off the rain drops and kept moving.

Clambering: The mother takes a short break as her cubs climb over her

In the trees: This cub used the branches of a tree to have a play away from its brothers and sisters

Cut it out! Mum seems to be getting a little impatient with one of her mischievous cubs

But don't let this bunch of fluffy young felines fool you. They will grow into the fastest animal on land, and will be able to run up to speeds of 75mph at their peak.

These cubs will soon learn to hunt with their mother - if they haven't started already. When they reach the age of five to six weeks, cheetahs accompany their mother to learn how to make a kill.

Typically, a cheetah's prey is larger mammals such as Thomson's gazelle, the Grant's gazelle, the springbok and the impala.

Cheetahs hunt predominantly using their sight. Females hunt alone, unless accompanied by their offspring, and attack their prey either early in the morning or in the evening - so there is enough light.

The efficient killers take down their unfortunate meal by tripping the fleeing animal up, and then digging razor-sharp teeth into the prey's throat.

Lone ranger: This curious cub went for a wonder across the planes without its siblings or mother

In training: One of the young cheetahs practised its hunting techniques by pouncing from the rocks

Shake it out: Another quartet of young cheetahs were captured on film on the Masai Mara in Kenya drying themselves after rainfall