This week’s big cat is the fastest animal on Earth, the cheetah
is unique in many ways, it kinda looks like a large muscular greyhound with its
sleek body and long thin, powerful legs.
An adult can run up to 113km/h or 70 mph. They have large nasal passages allowing them
to breathe easy while running.
They like to live in dry areas like the bush lands of Savanah
and the semi-deserts, they feed on gazelles, impala, wildebeests and zebras.
They like to hunt during the day, following a herd from a distance then
selecting and old, an injured or a young victim, it will chase its victim and
usually catches it on its first attempt. Its powerful jaw muscles enable it to tightly
hold and suffocate its prey.
Most males prefer to live alone and will claim and make an area
as their own. Their paws are more like
dogs then a cats being narrow and hard padded and non-retractable like a cats
which allows for better grip while running.
They can be as long as 1.5 metres or 3.5 feet, as tall a 1 metre
or 3 feet they weigh about 45-65 kilos or 99-143 pounds, they have a life span of
12-14 years, females usually have between 2 and 4 cubs at a time.
Unlike other big cats they don’t roar but purr, they also make
high pitched yelps and barks as well as moan and bleat. They have a tawny to
creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black
spots. The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black tear-like
facial streaks.
Cheetahs are in the “vulnerable” category and are at risk of
extinction in the wild. They face a number of threats, including losing their
prey and habitat to human activity, human-animal conflict, and illegal animal
trade. Less than 100 animals live in
East Africa, less than 2,000 in Sudan, and fewer than 500 live in Northeast
Africa. The total number of cheetahs in the world is estimated to
be approximately 6,517 mature individuals.
Yeah I wouldn’t want to encounter a cheetah on a hiking trail!
ReplyDeleteNo way we could out run one
DeleteMany moons ago I got to watch two Cheetahs run from one point to another ... they are FAST!!!
ReplyDeleteThat would have been cool to see
DeleteWow does he look powerful when he runs! Scary!
ReplyDeleteHell yeah
DeleteI never knew that cheetahs were so endangered, Jo-Anne.
ReplyDeleteNeither did I, too many creatures are
DeleteWhen I was in grade school some kids called me Rita the Cheetah on the playground because I was fast and strong, they told me. I think they had seen a nature show on TV or something. I could outrun any of the boys in 4th grade--lol! I didn't know they can't retract their claws. Sad to hear they are so endangered.
ReplyDeleteI have never been a fast runner and would easily get caught and eaten
DeleteYou make me miss childhood nights watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom...
ReplyDelete