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photo from cheetah.org
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CHEETAH
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has been described by many as swift, fleet, lithe, and beautiful.
These, however, are only adjectives to describe an animal that has evolved over millions of
years to become the superb and elegant cat that it is.
Cheetahs once were found from India and Nepal all the way to South Africa.
Their home range now is fragmented and they are relegated mostly to Eastern and Southern Africa.
The country of Namibia, in south-western Africa has the largest population of cheetah in the world.
Although they are members of the cat family, they possess certain unique characteristics:
their claws do not retract, they have small canines and their jaws are relatively week.
However, they have incredibly flexible spines, powerful leg muscles and with these adaptations are
able to attain speeds up to 70 miles per hour.
The cheetahs stalk their prey, usually small antelope, until they are
only a short distance away. With their incredible speed they pounce on their
prey and bring it down. They then bite the throat and suffocate their prey.
This is unlike other large cats which have jaws powerful enough to break its
victim's neck. They are also the most diurnal of the big cats, hunting during
the morning or afternoon and avoiding the mid-day heat. Thompson's Gazelle
are the favorite food of cheetah.
Adult cheetahs weigh 110-130 lbs and are 5-6 feet long, not including their tail.
Cheetahs live for 10-12 years in the wild and reach sexual maturity after age 2.
Females and males are only together while the female is in season. Gestation last
about 91-95 days, and up to 6 pups are born. The mother cares for the young for the
first two years of life. Despite this, up to 90% of cubs die before reaching 3 years
of age. There are a number of reasons for this high infant mortality rate. In Africa,
hyena and lions are responsible for up to 75% of cheetah infant mortality. Because
there is limited genetic variability in the entire cheetah population, they are
more at risk for disease.
Loss of habitat, poaching and competition with large predators and ranchers,
are the main extrinsic threats to the cheetahs survival. The loss of genetic
variation is an intrinsic threat that is also a danger to all cheetahs. Captive
breeding efforts have not proven successful.
There are wonderful groups such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund which are working to
help this graceful and magnificent animal survive. Endangered Encounters will do our
part by donating 100 percent of post-tax profits to organizations that will work to
ensure that future generations will be able to see these majestic creatures in the
wild, where they belong.
Please travel with us and help save this magnificent animal!
MORE ABOUT CHEETAHS
CHEETAH, Acinonyx jubatus
Wildnet Africa
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The Majestic Cheetah
CHEETAH CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
Cheetah Conservation Fund
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