By Hannah Stewens @hannahshewans

A CAUTIOUS mother leopard takes her two young cubs for a walk through the bush

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Leopards are generally solitary animals and will avoid fellow leopards when they can

German wildlife photographer Ingo Gerlach was on safari in the Kenyan Masai Mara when he spotted the tender family moment.

Some leopards' territories will overlap but they will do their best to stay out of each other's way

Female leopards have litters of two to three cubs and their young will leave by the time they are two-years-old.

Ingo said: “The leopard was changing location to protect the cubs from enemies like lions or hyenas.

Female leopards will regularly move their cubs to new shelters to keep them safe until they can hunt with her

“This is a proven strategy of leopard mothers, who seek a different shelter for their offspring every day.

Cubs will stay with their mother's for up to two years before venturing off on their own

“This leopard brought her cute babies safely along the river Olare Orok in the Kenyan Masai Mara.

“It was just wonderful to look at how affectionate and anxious mama leopard looked.”

Photographer Ingo Gerlach captured the special moment on safari in Kenya

The protective mother will continue to move and hide her cubs regularly until they are old enough to start learning how to hunt with her.

The German wildlife photographer waited patiently with his safari guide for hours to spot the happy family

Leopards are usually solitary animals and roam their own territories, avoiding other leopards when they can.

While their mother left to hunt the cubs played outside their new home

When a female is ready to mate she will give out a specific scent and rub her body on trees to signal male leopards that she is ready to mate. 

The protective mother leopard kept a close eye on the horizon as she moved her adorable offspring

Ingo added: “The bright blue eyes of the leopard babies increased the cuteness factor by five! After a considerable time the leopard found a safe shelter in front of a small cave.

Female leopards give off a specific scent to males when they are ready to mate

“She left the boys and went on a night hight for she needed food so she could still suckle her young.

“In the meantime the leopard babies played in front of their new home until nightfall.”