photos by Michael Wilkinson

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Built for speed... Cheetahs have long, slender legs, a flexible spine, large lungs, non-retractable claws,and large nostrils.

Seeing Spots? The cheetah's spots are small, round, and black on their tan fur. Scientists studying cheetahs identify individuals by their spot patterns and by the ring patterns on their tail. Large, spotted cats are beautiful. As the saying goes, cats cannot change their spots. But you can change your habits by supporting wildlife conservation efforts. Think Green! Quick Fact The cheetah is the only "big cat" that does not roar... it purrs and chirps! Skull of a cheetah.

Cheetahs are big cats, found primarily on the African Plains. They once roamed throughout Asia and Africa. Today only about 150 remain in Iran, and about 12,000 cheetahs live in sub-Saharan African grasslands. They are endangered because of decline in prey, loss of habitat, poaching, and being shot as a livestock predator. Size: An adult cheetah weighs 80-140 pounds, are 48-56 inches long and measure 32 inches at the shoulder. Behavior: Cheetahs are solitary except when mothers are caring for cubs. Cheetahs live in large territories that often take them outside protected areas. Cheetahs stalk their prey until they can chase it down in a 65-70 mph sprint. An average chase lasts 20 seconds. As hard as they work, cheetahs often lose their meal to larger predators, like lions, leopards, hyenas, and vultures! Diet: The main prey of the cheetah are small antelope, birds, hare, and warthogs. Cheetahs eat about 6 lbs of meat per day. A good meal is a gazelle, a gnu, a warthog, an impala, or a wildebeest calf. Amazing fact: Cheetahs can sprint at speeds of 70 mph and accelerate from 0 to 45 mph in 2 seconds. Saving nature together: Cheetahs are endangered because of decline in prey, loss of habitat, poaching, and being shot as a livestock predator. The future for Africa's high-speed cat depends largely on people's attitudes. Already extinct in most of Asia and 16 African countries where it once lived, the cheetah is often disliked because of its predatory lifestyle. Cheetahs hunt other animals for food, but they are just "doing their job". Cheetahs need a lot of land to survive: they live alone on large territories; their antelope prey need vast areas of land to support their large herds. Like many other endangered species, habitat destruction, poaching, and conflict with people threaten the cheetah's existence. The good news is, the main threats to cheetah survival will vanish when people change their attitudes toward predators and their actions that effect them. What Can You Do? Learn about the role of predators in a healthy ecosystem. Spread the word! Help the Earth by reducing the amount of natural resources you use. We believe that together, we can make a difference!

Cheetah Observation Coming around a kopje we spotted a female cheetah poised at attention. Following her gaze, we noticed a frankolin with a clutch of chicks that she was stalking. Taking her time, she slowly worked them off the plain into the foot of the kopje. As the birds reached the cover of the rocks, they were able to remain hidden long enough for the cheetah to lose site of them, and made their escape under cover while the cheetah was in a low spot. Giving up on the birds, the cheetah took shelter in the shade at the base of the kopje. We looked behind us to notice dozens of Grant's gazelle on the plain below. For a lone cheetah these are too large a prey. After a few minutes a spotted hyena came on the scene. Was it trying to steal the cheetah's quarry, or just finding a spot to bask in the sun on top of the kopje? -MWilkinson 26 June 2001 Serengetti National Park, Tanzania

©2003 The Wild Ones
c/o Wildlife Trust
61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964-8000
Tel: 845.365.8337 Fax: 845.365.8177