Nora was born in April 2014 to her mother, Narasha. She had a brother, M23. The two siblings were left by their mother in December 2013 and February 2014, and the two went separate ways.
Since attaining reproductive age in 2014, Nora conceived 15 times and gave birth to more than 11 litters, but only one male cub, born in 2016 in a litter of 4, survived.
Her last pregnancy was recorded in February 2023, but the cub died in less than a month. In older cheetahs, giving birth takes place in the afternoon as opposed to morning or night, thus exposing the weak cubs to predators. Cub rearing exposes female cheetahs to predators while reducing their mobility.
On 13th December 2025, the world was saddened to learn of the unfortunate death of Nora, the oldest cheetah in the Mara ecosystem, after being stalked and killed by a young leopard called Bella 2. This incident occurred as Nora walked to a water source, surrounded by several tourist vehicles who watched her being attacked to death. According to conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts, the noisy engines of the safari vehicles at close proximity prevented Nora from detecting Bella 2's approach. Some have also blamed the engine fumes, which led to the carnivore losing her sense of smell over time, eventually contributing to her inability to react to the predator. This, compounded by her age and several pregnancies which may have strained her body made her more vulnerable to the attack.
Such a leopard–cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) encounter is very rare; often the cheetah uses her speed to avoid conflict. Such happens when predators are in competition for food.
Encroachment of human activity is squeezing the Mara’s wildlife corridors, and the pressure often results in predators paying the ultimate price. As more land is fenced off for human activities and development, cheetahs and other carnivores lose habitat and safe passage, becoming casualties of a shrinking landscape. By 2022, the population of resident cheetahs in the Mara region had declined compared to 2020. Between 2021 and 2022, Maasai Mara continued to lose its cheetah population. Genetic vulnerability also remains a significant threat to cheetahs. They have low genetic diversity, making them more susceptible to disease and reducing their reproductive success. As a species, they do not always reproduce successfully, which puts them at risk of extinction.
As an advocate of ethical tourism, Sopa Lodges has developed a safari etiquette policy that we share with all our guides and guests. This initiative reflects our commitment to collective responsibility in conserving and protecting our wildlife and heritage.
We encourage all visitors, partners and members of the public to play their part in safeguarding our fragile environment. Respect wildlife viewing distances, minimize noise, avoid littering and support conservation focused tourism practices. Every responsible action, no matter how small, contributes to preserving the Mara’s delicate ecosystem for future generations. Protecting our environment is not only the duty of conservationists, but a shared responsibility for us all.
Norah was a symbol of the fragile nature of the species.
Compiled by Ludi (Masai Mara Sopa Lodge General Manager)