Cheetah Cubs Learn How to Hunt

Photo by Andy Rouse taken in Masai Mara. A mother cheetah caught a baby Thomson's gazelle. This is an easy thing to do for the fastest animal on land. The baby gazelle is caught unharmed. Then the mother lets it go and encourages her cubs to chase it. Then the gazelle get too far the mother catches it again and the cycle continues. This seems cruel but it's the only way cheetah cubs will learn how to hunt. The source doesn't say whether the gazelle got away or not. My guess once the cubs were done playing they had a little snack.