A pair of cheetah cubs were taught a lesson on how to catch a quick lunch as they watched their mother stalk and take down an antelope in just 15 seconds.
The chase is on: The cheetah, which can accelerate to speeds of 60mph in just seconds, got itself into position before bursting into action
Fight to the death: A cheetah locks on to the next of an isolated impala as she tried to catch dinner for her and her two cubs
On the prowl: The mother cheetah hides in the savannah as it prepares to strike, picking the best moment to charge at its prey
Stalking: The cheetah got its two cubs to hang back as she approached the impale in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya
The impala stood no chance, with the big cat catching the animal in just 15 seconds – barely enough time for the cheetah cubs to realise what they were watching.
Big cat: The impala stood no chance, with the cheetah catching the animal in just 15 seconds as the cubs watched intently
Death grip: The impala uses up what energy it has left in a desperate attempt to escape the clutches of the cheetag
Predator and prey: The cheetah and impala do battle as the antelope tries to wriggle free from the big cat’s vice grip
Gotcha: But the antelope cannot put up enough of a fight and it is soon dragged to the ground with fatal injuries
Dinner time! After killing the impala, the mother cheetah calls over her cubs so the family can tuck into their dinner together
Italian Mr Mei, from Rome, said: ‘When the impala was caught we moved fast – closer to the action and found the cheetah clamping it.
Thanks mum: One of the cute but ferocious cubs licks its lips while the other devours the impala’s carcass
Tucking in: As their mother rests after the short but strenuous battle, the young cheetah cubs get their fill
Feast: After getting her breath back, the cubs’ mother returns to get her dinner, dragging the impala’s body away from her child
Family dinner: The stunning pictures were taken by photographer Massimo Mei, 53, who was on a trip to the African country
Full up: A pair of cheetah cubs got a lesson in how to catch their lunch from their mother who stalked and took down an antelope in just 15 seconds