A unique cheetah without the traditional spots has been spotted in the wild for the first time in almost a century.
Unlike its typically spotted relatives, this cheetah has a sandy coat with tiny freckles on its back and no black markings, a sight not seen since 1921.
British wildlife photographer Guy Combes, originally from Shaftesbury, Dorset, embarked on a mission to locate this elusive creature after hearing reports of its existence in Kenya.
Armed with a Land Rover and assisted by a plane, Combes searched 100,000 acres of land in the Athi Kapiti Conservancy. After days of looking, he finally found the cheetah just 50 yards away.
The rare cheetah was accompanied by its mother, who had the typical spotted coat. Combes was thrilled by the discovery, describing it as one of the most exhilarating moments of his life.
“It was such a rush to see this beautiful animal up close, knowing it’s rare. I didn’t expect to find it in such a vast area, but we got lucky,” Combes shared.
The cheetah’s unique appearance may be an advantage. Experts suggest that the recessive gene responsible for the lack of spots is similar to the genetic mutation in South Africa and Zimbabwe’s ‘King’ cheetah.
Big cat consultant Danny Nineham explained, “This coloration could help the cheetah survive, as it resembles the coloring of lions and pumas, which thrive in the wild.”
John Pullen, curator of mammals at Marwell Zoo, compared the cheetah’s condition to a rare skin issue affecting genetic coding.
“You occasionally see photos of albino or melanistic animals, but this variation is unusual. It’s always fascinating when these rare traits appear,” Pullen said.
This sighting offers a rare glimpse into the diversity of nature and highlights the beauty of genetic variations in the animal kingdom.
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