The fastest land mammal lives on the Great Plains of Africa. With a stride length of 6-7m and the ability to take four strides a second, the cheetah is truly impressive. To give an example of this imcreadable speed, cheetah can go from standing still to over 110km an hour, in three seconds!! Is that not amazing!
As well as being the fastest land mammal, the cheetah has raced ahead and also claimed the title of the lightest large cat.
However fast this big cat is, it is simply not fast enough to outrun the threats that humans provide. Bit by bit we are over taking it. Currently classified as vulnerable the cheetah numbers are decreasing rapidly. We need to help the cheetah gain enough speed to race ahead of the threats and problems so they can build their numbers and flourish in their natural environment.
As well as being the fastest land mammal, the cheetah has raced ahead and also claimed the title of the lightest large cat.
However fast this big cat is, it is simply not fast enough to outrun the threats that humans provide. Bit by bit we are over taking it. Currently classified as vulnerable the cheetah numbers are decreasing rapidly. We need to help the cheetah gain enough speed to race ahead of the threats and problems so they can build their numbers and flourish in their natural environment.
Habitat
Cheetah live in Africa and parts of Iran. They have a wide habitat range, living from dry forests and thick scrub to grasslands and deserts.
Description
Cheetah have a light tan to deep gold coloured coat, covered with black spots apart from the tip of the tail which can range from black to white with about 5 dark rings. With a slender body and long legs, a narrow waist and deep chest, cheetah are the lightest large cat at between 34 and 57kg. They can grow up to between 71 and 91cm tall and a length of about 2.2 metres, a third of which is tail.
Diet
Like other big cats, cheetah are carnivores, their diet mainly consists of gazelle, impala, small to medium sized antelope, hares, birds and rodents. They will also prey on the calves of larger mammals like buffalo.
Cheetah prefer to eat wild animals, only old, young or inexperienced cheetah will prey on livestock.
Threats
Natural predators include eagles, hyenas and lions.
Humans are the biggest threat to these big cats. There are three main areas in which humans effect cheetah populations.
The first of these areas include tourists coming onto cheetah's spaces and effecting their daily routine, habitat loss because of expanding agricultural areas and roads and some ranchers who will shoot them to protect livestock, especially as about 75% of wild cheetah live on rural farmland, alongside humans.
Another area in which cheetah are affected by humans is the illegal trading of cheetah as exotic pets and poaching for their pelts.
Lastly, they are at risk from introduced thorns bushes that can cause damage to their eyes, affecting their hunting ability.
How can we help??
Associations like the African Wildlife Foundation and the Cheetah Conservation Fund are working to protect these beautiful cats. Some ways they are helping include minimising human contact, preventing expanding human areas that encroach on cheetah habitats and setting up areas where livestock is safe from cheetahs.
References
National Geographic Kids - https://www.natgeokids.com/nz/discover/animals/general-animals/cheetah-facts/
Cheetah Conservation Fund - https://cheetah.org/learn/about-cheetahs/
Auckland Zoo - https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/cheetah
African Wildlife Foundation - https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/cheetah
San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/cheetah
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/219/50649567
Cheetah live in Africa and parts of Iran. They have a wide habitat range, living from dry forests and thick scrub to grasslands and deserts.
Description
Cheetah have a light tan to deep gold coloured coat, covered with black spots apart from the tip of the tail which can range from black to white with about 5 dark rings. With a slender body and long legs, a narrow waist and deep chest, cheetah are the lightest large cat at between 34 and 57kg. They can grow up to between 71 and 91cm tall and a length of about 2.2 metres, a third of which is tail.
Diet
Like other big cats, cheetah are carnivores, their diet mainly consists of gazelle, impala, small to medium sized antelope, hares, birds and rodents. They will also prey on the calves of larger mammals like buffalo.
Cheetah prefer to eat wild animals, only old, young or inexperienced cheetah will prey on livestock.
Threats
Natural predators include eagles, hyenas and lions.
Humans are the biggest threat to these big cats. There are three main areas in which humans effect cheetah populations.
The first of these areas include tourists coming onto cheetah's spaces and effecting their daily routine, habitat loss because of expanding agricultural areas and roads and some ranchers who will shoot them to protect livestock, especially as about 75% of wild cheetah live on rural farmland, alongside humans.
Another area in which cheetah are affected by humans is the illegal trading of cheetah as exotic pets and poaching for their pelts.
Lastly, they are at risk from introduced thorns bushes that can cause damage to their eyes, affecting their hunting ability.
How can we help??
Associations like the African Wildlife Foundation and the Cheetah Conservation Fund are working to protect these beautiful cats. Some ways they are helping include minimising human contact, preventing expanding human areas that encroach on cheetah habitats and setting up areas where livestock is safe from cheetahs.
References
National Geographic Kids - https://www.natgeokids.com/nz/discover/animals/general-animals/cheetah-facts/
Cheetah Conservation Fund - https://cheetah.org/learn/about-cheetahs/
Auckland Zoo - https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/cheetah
African Wildlife Foundation - https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/cheetah
San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/cheetah
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/219/50649567