Three cheetahs captured at the Kicheche Mara Camp, Mara North Conservancy in Masai Mara National Park sparked debate in India.
The photos, snapped by Paul Goldstein, a wildlife photographer in 2022 were shared on Tuesday, February 22, and were a topic of discussion among Indians who compared it to the National Emblem of India.
"Practising for the India trip, Paul Goldstein, a wildlife photographer from Wimbledon, captured this gorgeous image of Cheetahs mirroring the National Emblem of India, in Kenya's Masai Mara National Park," the caption read.
The cheetahs were seated close to each other with their heads facing in different directions with their bodies aligned to make it appear as one cheetah.
However, many Indians argued that the animals on the national emblem were lions representing royalty while cheetahs represented speed.
Furthermore, others went on to give examples of animals and their meaning including an elephant that is associated with strength.
Some took the opportunity to share a bit of their knowledge on the meaning of animals in different African countries using the example of Egypt which considered the cheetah sacred and a symbol of royalty.
Others commended the photographer for capturing the unique formation of the cheetahs. Reportedly, it took the photographer about seven hours to capture the perfect shot.
The photo was taken in 2022, by the photographer who named it 'Cheetah Trinity' with the caption, "Moments like this in the rain are spellbinding."
Notably, India is on its way to reintroducing cheetahs in the wild - the first batch of felines arrived from Namibia in 2022.
The National Emblem in India features three lions, standing back to back mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus.
It is one of the national symbols including the national flag, anthem, song (Vande Mataram), bird (peacock), animal (tiger), and flower (lotus).
