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 mother was leading her children through the Masai Mara National Park in southern Kenya when she spotted an isolated impala in the distance . The cheetah , which can accelerate to speeds of 60mph in mere seconds , got itself into position before bursting into action and giving chase . 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 . Predator and prey were seen grappling with each other for around three minutes , but before long the impala stopped putting up a fight and collapsed . The cubs had hidden out of sight as their mother went hunting but were called out shortly after the brutal battle came to a close so the family could tuck into dinner together . The small cheetahs may appear cute but they are actually particularly ferocious , as was seen as they tore apart the carcass of the impala while their mother rested following her fight . The stunning pictures were taken by photographer Massimo Mei , 53 , who was on a trip to the African country . 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 can not 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 . 'It was like a dance of death time moved slowly keeping with the breath of the impala getting slower and slower . 'The chase went on for just 15 seconds but took about three minutes for the impala to give up its struggle . 'The mother of four cubs is well known in the park - her name is Malaika , or 'Angel ' in Swahili . 'Malaika tried to pull the impala into the shadows but it was too heavy , so decided to prepare the meal for the cubs where it was . 'When ready she called the cubs over . When they arrived and began feeding it made me forget the agony of the scene I witnessed . ' 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 .
Cheetah cubs given a lesson by their mother in how to catch a quick lunch , taking down impala in 15 seconds . Mother was leading her three cubs through Masai Mara National Park , in Kenya , when she spotted the antelope . Big cat reached speeds of up to 60mph as she gave chase before grappling with her prey for two minutes . She then called over her children , who were hiding nearby , and the two of them devoured the impala as a family .