Cheetah Information

Information on the Cheetah: The Fastest Animal on Land

Almost everyone has heard of the cheetah, but not many of us know what exactly it looks like or that it is endangered. Information on the cheetah should help educate people about the fastest animal on land and what we can do to protect it.

Both the male and female cheetahs make it quite obvious what emotion they’re feeling at all times: when a cheetah is angry or feels threatened it will make chirping sounds and hiss or spit, but when it is feeling content it will purr loudly, just like a domestic cat.

Research done on cheetahs has resulted in information regarding their reason for running when a lion or bigger predator attacks them. They are unable to fight larger animals because of their weak jaws and small teeth. Although they are part of the cat family just like the lion, cheetahs cannot roar and lions are their biggest enemy.

The females are smaller than the males and live alone, except when they are raising their cubs. Cheetahs do not pose a threat to humans, but will attack if they feel threatened or when their cubs are attacked.

Interesting information regarding the cheetah’s paw and pads are that they are non-retractable and therefore they cannot climb vertical trees. A cheetah’s paws are also less rounded than other cats.

A way to recognise a cheetah is that all cheetahs have black lines that run from the corner of their eyes down the sides of their noses to their mouths. This not only keeps the sun out of their eyes, but it helps them when they are hunting. These lines are known as their tear streaks.

A cheetah will inform other cheetahs where his territory is by marking spots. This is done by urination on objects like trees, logs and termite mounds.

There are various conservation centres for cheetahs that gather information regarding their:

Habitat – they like most areas including grass lands, dense vegetation, mountains and savannahs.
Hunting habits – they hunt early in the morning or early in the evening when it’s not that hot and their prey is still visible.
Diets – a cheetah’s diet consists of small antelope, the young of antelope, warthog, springhares and even game birds.
Lifespan – in captivity, a cheetah’s lifespan is about 10 – 12 years and in the wild it’s about eight years.

Through research and conservation organisations, the human race is spoilt for choice with information regarding the cheetah.

Cheetah Information

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