Toto meaning 'little one' in Swahili, was the youngest cheetah ever filmed on the docu-drama BIG CAT DIARY, filmed in the Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR). He was the only cub born to Honey, one of the true natural stars of the show. Toto first appears on the show when he was probably around 7-8 weeks old. He must have been out of the den for a week or so when he was first captured on camera. Though still suckling frequently, he had to be left alone for long periods when his mother (later identified as Honey) needed to hunt.
The part of the plain where Toto lived with his mother is full of lions, hyenas and baboons who would think nothing of killing him. The times Toto was left alone were filled with potential danger. His will to live, however, was resilient and he endeared himself to viewers worldwide. It was easy to root for the adorable cub.
The last time Toto appears on the show and also the last time he was ever seen shows Toto and Honey walking away in a torrential storm.
The following day Toto is simply gone. Honey was found but sadly she is all alone, no cub in sight. In the Masai Mara it is very common for cheetahs to die as cubs. A very small percentage makes it to independence. It is unknown what happened to sweet and precious Toto but he was most likely killed by one of the many predators roaming the nature reserve where he spent his brief life.
Toto remains one of the most beloved cats on the show. It was devastating for the show crew and the viewers to find out Toto had simply disappeared. More drama was to follow.
AFTERWARD
Toto's mother Honey went on to have other cubs, one of her cubs, a female was killed by a lion but her body was found, unlike Toto's who wasn't. Sadly Honey too died in February 2007, Honey was sedated with a tranquilizer dart while her cubs were being treated for possible mange, however instead of entering her muscle the medication filled syringe entered near her kidneys. Due to this veterinarian blunder, Honey died soon after she awoke from the ordeal. That was the major cause of her death but what added to her death was the lack of following protocol. She was left in the hot sun instead of being placed in the shade and wetting her. Also protocol did not dictate for Honey to be tranquilized since nothing was being done to her. Her cubs still too young to fend for themselves were cared for by the nature park where they lived. Honey was the most successful cheetah mother of the show, raising several cubs to adulthood. She was described as a queen among cats.
Please if you have time click on the images and more is said in the captions. Also if you can read more about cheetahs and their plight. Sadly these beautiful animals are endangered.
The part of the plain where Toto lived with his mother is full of lions, hyenas and baboons who would think nothing of killing him. The times Toto was left alone were filled with potential danger. His will to live, however, was resilient and he endeared himself to viewers worldwide. It was easy to root for the adorable cub.
The last time Toto appears on the show and also the last time he was ever seen shows Toto and Honey walking away in a torrential storm.
The following day Toto is simply gone. Honey was found but sadly she is all alone, no cub in sight. In the Masai Mara it is very common for cheetahs to die as cubs. A very small percentage makes it to independence. It is unknown what happened to sweet and precious Toto but he was most likely killed by one of the many predators roaming the nature reserve where he spent his brief life.
Toto remains one of the most beloved cats on the show. It was devastating for the show crew and the viewers to find out Toto had simply disappeared. More drama was to follow.
AFTERWARD
Toto's mother Honey went on to have other cubs, one of her cubs, a female was killed by a lion but her body was found, unlike Toto's who wasn't. Sadly Honey too died in February 2007, Honey was sedated with a tranquilizer dart while her cubs were being treated for possible mange, however instead of entering her muscle the medication filled syringe entered near her kidneys. Due to this veterinarian blunder, Honey died soon after she awoke from the ordeal. That was the major cause of her death but what added to her death was the lack of following protocol. She was left in the hot sun instead of being placed in the shade and wetting her. Also protocol did not dictate for Honey to be tranquilized since nothing was being done to her. Her cubs still too young to fend for themselves were cared for by the nature park where they lived. Honey was the most successful cheetah mother of the show, raising several cubs to adulthood. She was described as a queen among cats.
Please if you have time click on the images and more is said in the captions. Also if you can read more about cheetahs and their plight. Sadly these beautiful animals are endangered.
Toto meaning 'little one' in Swahili, was the youngest cheetah ever filmed on the docu-drama BIG CAT DIARY, filmed in the Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR). He was the only cub born to Honey, one of the true natural stars of the show. Toto first appears on the show when he was probably around 7-8 weeks old. He must have been out of the den for a week or so when he was first captured on camera. Though still suckling frequently, he had to be left alone for long periods when his mother (later identified as Honey) needed to hunt.
The part of the plain where Toto lived with his mother is full of lions, hyenas and baboons who would think nothing of killing him. The times Toto was left alone were filled with potential danger. His will to live, however, was resilient and he endeared himself to viewers worldwide. It was easy to root for the adorable cub.
The last time Toto appears on the show and also the last time he was ever seen shows Toto and Honey walking away in a torrential storm.
The following day Toto is simply gone. Honey was found but sadly she is all alone, no cub in sight. In the Masai Mara it is very common for cheetahs to die as cubs. A very small percentage makes it to independence. It is unknown what happened to sweet and precious Toto but he was most likely killed by one of the many predators roaming the nature reserve where he spent his brief life.
Toto remains one of the most beloved cats on the show. It was devastating for the show crew and the viewers to find out Toto had simply disappeared. More drama was to follow.
AFTERWARD
Toto's mother Honey went on to have other cubs, one of her cubs, a female was killed by a lion but her body was found, unlike Toto's who wasn't. Sadly Honey too died in February 2007, Honey was sedated with a tranquilizer dart while her cubs were being treated for possible mange, however instead of entering her muscle the medication filled syringe entered near her kidneys. Due to this veterinarian blunder, Honey died soon after she awoke from the ordeal. That was the major cause of her death but what added to her death was the lack of following protocol. She was left in the hot sun instead of being placed in the shade and wetting her. Also protocol did not dictate for Honey to be tranquilized since nothing was being done to her. Her cubs still too young to fend for themselves were cared for by the nature park where they lived. Honey was the most successful cheetah mother of the show, raising several cubs to adulthood. She was described as a queen among cats.
Please if you have time click on the images and more is said in the captions. Also if you can read more about cheetahs and their plight. Sadly these beautiful animals are endangered.
The part of the plain where Toto lived with his mother is full of lions, hyenas and baboons who would think nothing of killing him. The times Toto was left alone were filled with potential danger. His will to live, however, was resilient and he endeared himself to viewers worldwide. It was easy to root for the adorable cub.
The last time Toto appears on the show and also the last time he was ever seen shows Toto and Honey walking away in a torrential storm.
The following day Toto is simply gone. Honey was found but sadly she is all alone, no cub in sight. In the Masai Mara it is very common for cheetahs to die as cubs. A very small percentage makes it to independence. It is unknown what happened to sweet and precious Toto but he was most likely killed by one of the many predators roaming the nature reserve where he spent his brief life.
Toto remains one of the most beloved cats on the show. It was devastating for the show crew and the viewers to find out Toto had simply disappeared. More drama was to follow.
AFTERWARD
Toto's mother Honey went on to have other cubs, one of her cubs, a female was killed by a lion but her body was found, unlike Toto's who wasn't. Sadly Honey too died in February 2007, Honey was sedated with a tranquilizer dart while her cubs were being treated for possible mange, however instead of entering her muscle the medication filled syringe entered near her kidneys. Due to this veterinarian blunder, Honey died soon after she awoke from the ordeal. That was the major cause of her death but what added to her death was the lack of following protocol. She was left in the hot sun instead of being placed in the shade and wetting her. Also protocol did not dictate for Honey to be tranquilized since nothing was being done to her. Her cubs still too young to fend for themselves were cared for by the nature park where they lived. Honey was the most successful cheetah mother of the show, raising several cubs to adulthood. She was described as a queen among cats.
Please if you have time click on the images and more is said in the captions. Also if you can read more about cheetahs and their plight. Sadly these beautiful animals are endangered.
Gravesite Details
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO JOURNEY FOR SPONSORING TOTO.
