Their Diet and Hunting Techniques

Cheetahs mainly prey on small to medium sized antelope, such as springbok and impala, but they also include warthogs, rabbits, birds the young of larger antelope in their diet

Cheetahs don't like fatty meat and prefer not to eat livestock, however farm land can often form part of their territory and because they are active during the day they are often seen on farmer's land, putting them in danger of being shot, trapped or poisoned

Cheetahs will stalk as close as possible to their prey and once they are close enough they will initiate the high-speed chase. They will trip the prey with their dew claw and once it is down they will kill it with a stranglehold to the neck

Once the prey is dead the cheetah needs to start eating very quickly, as the other predators in the area will soon arrive and chase the cheetah off. Cheetahs never return to a kill and only eat fresh meat, they also never scavenge, so if they can't capture and kill their own prey because they are sick or injured, they will starve to death

• Their Endangered Status
• Their Adaptions to Speed
• Their Diet & Hunting Techniques

Are you interested in volunteering at the Dell Cheetah Centre and helping us save the cheetah?

Our volunteer programme is designed to introduce you to the fascinating wildlife African has to offer as well as the incredible cheetah, and to work closely in all aspects of reserve management.

Find out how you can help >>