Animal offspring are inherently devoid of attack or defence capabilities in the natural world, making them the most vulnerable group.

Even formidable predators like lions, their cubs must cautiously navigate through each day during their growth.

Among the offspring of various predators, cheetah cubs are particularly fragile and easily preyed upon by almost any predator. As predators, cheetahs lack physical strength due to their body size and the absence of formidable "weapons" like sharp teeth and claws. Therefore, they often rely on their speed advantage to escape threats when facing danger. However, this escape strategy can put cheetah cubs in peril.

The overlap of living territories forces cheetahs to confront powerful predators frequently. Moreover, mother cheetahs only use dens briefly after the cubs are born. Around six weeks old, the cubs start accompanying their mother on hunting trips. During the initial months, mother cheetahs and cubs cannot roam too far or too fast, making it the period with the highest natural mortality rate for the cubs.

These natural constraints lead cheetahs to produce more offspring than most other predators, typically 3-6 cubs per litter, ensuring that at least some cubs survive this dangerous phase.

According to statistics in the Serengeti region of Tanzania, less than 5% of cheetah cubs survive weaning, with a death rate much higher than most mammals. The primary culprit for this outcome is lions. In other locations as well, cheetah cub mortality rates are similarly alarming. To increase the chances of cub survival, cheetahs, one day, realized they could mimic a "bully" to avoid tragic outcomes.

This "bully" is the honey badger, also known as the "Flathead Brother," a formidable adversary that lions detest and are reluctant to provoke.

If you observe the fur of cheetah cubs closely, you'll notice an unusual colouration – bright on top and darker underneath, perfectly matching the colour of honey badgers.

The choice to disguise as a honey badger rather than another animal has its rationale. On one hand, the size similarity between cheetah cubs and honey badgers increases the success rate of this disguise. On the other hand, honey badgers hold an "unassailable" position in the animal kingdom.

Despite their seemingly small size, they possess the courage and intelligence most other mammals lack. On the African savannah, honey badgers challenge cheetahs and lions and even confront groups of hyenas alone.

Moreover, they understand how to use or even create simple tools to assist themselves in various tasks. In a wildlife park in the United States, honey badgers have been using tools to "escape."

Considering these factors, animals in the wild rarely dare to actively provoke the "Flathead Brother" honey badger, as they know that starting this "bully" will inevitably lead to injuries. This is why cheetahs' choice to disguise their cubs as honey badgers is undeniably wise.

With the success of this disguise, its practical effect in real life is significant. Many lions, upon seeing a "honey badger cheetah," genuinely choose to keep their distance. Without this disguise, cheetah cubs would likely become prey in the mouths of lions.

It must be acknowledged that to survive in the harsh natural world, cheetahs have indeed exhausted all possible strategies.