Facts of Cheetahs (Facts About Cheetahs)

Speed Reading: Facts Of Cheetahs

The animal kingdom is full of fascinating and beautiful animals. In our urban environment it’s easy to forget how many different species are out there and often need our protection. One such species is the cheetah and there are many interesting facts of cheetahs to discover.

Reading up on facts about cheetahs will give you an insight into nature and the animal kingdom. It will also educate you on the cheetahs’ endangered status. Knowledge is power and knowing all the relevant facts of cheetahs will help spread the word on this truly interesting cats.

7 Facts About Cheetahs You Need To Know

So you want to know some facts of cheetahs? There is much information out there about their anatomy, hunting skills and place in the wild. Here are some handy facts about cheetahs to get you started:

  1. Speed – The cheetah is the fastest land mammal. The cheetah has been measured at reaching speeds of around 120 kilometres per hour. Its acceleration is equally impressive as it can go from 0 to over 100 in only a few seconds. However, the cheetah is let down in the stamina department – it can only maintain top speed for roughly 20 seconds.
  2. Hunting – The cheetah uses its speed to hunt and preys on animals like buck and small wildebeest. Unlike the other big cats, the cheetah has poor night vision and hunts during the day. It sticks to hunting on the savannah plains as it cannot climb trees.
  3. Size – The cheetah is the smallest of the big cat family. It weighs up to 60 kilograms and has a more streamline body built for speed. It has a small head and a long tail which acts like a rudder at top speed to steer the hunting speedster.
  4. Day Vision – The cheetah has great eye sight during the day and can spot prey from as far as 5 kilometres away. They have black tear-like markings running from their eyes, which are believed to help protect their eyes from the sun and help with their exceptional vision.
  5. Quiet Customer – An interesting fact of cheetahs is that they cannot roar. Unlike their lion and tiger cousins, the cheetah merely purrs. However, they do make chirping sounds when they communicate with each other – especially the mother cheetah and her cubs.
  6. Spotty – the cheetah is identified by its golden, sandy coat with black spots. Its belly is white and has no spots.
  7. Endangered – The most important fact about cheetahs is that they are endangered. That means there are only a few left and need to be protected. Their numbers are dwindling due to hunting, loss of habitat and being unable to breed successfully. Cheetah sanctuaries have been established to protect the cheetah and help with its survival.

 

The cheetah is an amazing animal and once was abundant in Africa. By educating yourself on facts of cheetahs you can educate others to support local organisations dedicated to protecting cheetahs. So spread facts about cheetahs and make a difference.

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.

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