Cheetah

Facts about the cheetah

The cheetah is probably the most elegant member of the cat family, sometimes referred to as the 'greyhound of cats' is tall and slender with long legs and a short muzzle with a rounded head. The body of the cheetah ranges from off white to a light fawn and is dotted with small black round spots. A tear-mark or black line runs down from the cheetah's inner eye to the corner of its mouth on both sides and unlike other cats does not have retractable claws. The cheetah weighs around 50 Kg and reaches a height of about 80-cm at the shoulder. Its long flat tail acts as a rudder when the cheetah sprints after prey.

The cheetah is normally seen alone, in pairs or in small family groups consisting of female and cubs. Adult males move around alone or in bachelor groups and are believed not to be territorial. Favorite lying up spots are marked by urine by both females and males, these lying up spots are normally raised above the level of the ground, i.e. a termite mound or small knoll. 

The cheetah is an endangered species and although once occurred all over South Africa now has had to be reintroduced into Natal and the Cape Province. Cheetahs still survive in other parts of the world namely Iran, Pakistan and parts of the Middle East.

Cheetahs do not have any set-breeding pattern and cubs, usually in litters of three, are born at any time of the year. The cubs are blind and helpless and weigh between 200 and 300g at birth. They are hidden by the mother for the first six weeks of their lives, thereafter follow her around until they are ready to fend for themselves.

Cheetahs will normally hunt medium sized antelope weighing about 50 Kg. The cheetah also hunts birds up to the size of an ostrich. In many areas the ostrich is considered to be the cheetah's favorite food. The cheetah will stalk its prey for a short distance and then sprint in for the kill. A cheetah can reach speeds of up to 70 Km per hour but can only sustain this speed for a limited period.

Cheetahs feed directly after they have killed an animal to avoid being robbed of their kill by other predators such as lions, hyenas and wild dogs.

You and the cheetah

Cheetahs are not dangerous to man in the wild. Stumble on a cheetah, it will give you one look and run off. Captive cheetahs are a different kettle of fish. They can become aggressive and unpredictable.