Information On Cheetahs

The Importance Of Spreading Information On Cheetahs In The Interest Of The Conservation Of The Species

Perhaps because of limited information on cheetahs, too many people are unaware of how scarce these special animals are and that they are in fact an endangered species. Therefore, it is important to educate people and make information freely available so that people can become actively involved in the process of saving the cheetah from extinction. It would also be important to address certain misconceptions that the general population may have about cheetahs.

Correcting People's Thinking

When imparting information about cheetahs, it is therefore important to note a few important things:

Cheetahs are non-aggressive animals that will flee rather than fight when confronted and therefore, they often lose a kill to another predator.
Cheetahs are the only predator that is not known for attacking humans in the wild.
Many people confuse cheetahs with leopards but there are many areas where they differ significantly, especially in terms of build, habitat, prey species, hunting technique and time, appearance and vocalisations.
They are mostly solitary animals, but some males form coalitions and females may often be spotted with their cubs.

Interesting Cheetah Facts

Educating people and passing on information on cheetahs start with instilling a sense of wonder for these special animals; some of these interesting facts are:

Cheetahs' light frame and long legs make them extraordinarily fleet of foot and capable of speeds of up to 120 km/h over short distances.
Their tails are specially adapted for the high-speed role, acting like a rudder to help them steer and stop, when they are not using it as a fly swat.
An extremely flexible spine gives them a very long reach when striding at speed – up to 8 metres.
They have small, streamlined heads but also very large nasal passages to help them get back their breath quickly after sprinting.
Within the small frame is a surprisingly large rib cage that houses a large heart and lungs.
Their claws are semi-retractable to help them find traction when sprinting and they can reach 80 km/h in just three seconds.
Cheetahs pray on small to medium animals and not on livestock, but merely being spotted on a farm may put them at risk of be killed by farmers.

Dwindling Numbers

Cheetahs' numbers are ever-dwindling because of a loss of habitat and prey due to human encroachment, people hunting cheetah, a limited genetic diversity due to inbreeding of the few that are left and being killed by farmers due to a belief that they hunt livestock. That is why it is so important to spread information on cheetahs.

Information On Cheetahs

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