Save Cheetahs
Out of 100 000 Cheetahs in 1900, fewer than 7100 remain in the wild now.
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The Cheetah is the fastest terrestrial animal (speeding up to 70 mph).
The Cheetah is the fastest terrestrial animal in the world with a speed of up to 70 mph. It can cover 110 yards in 5.95 seconds. At the same time it can maneuver incredibly precisely. Sadly, this species is slowly disappearing. In 1900, there were more than 100 000 Cheetahs in the wild, and now (according to 2016 estimates) fewer than 7 100 remain.
Cheetah with a cub. Source: Unsplash
Did you know that … if you count a Cheetah's spots, you will count about 2 000 of them?
The Cheetah is a slender, long-legged animal with a yellowish, black-spotted fur coat. It belongs to the family of Lesser Cats. Its closest relative is the Cougar and its size corresponds to this. It has a height of 26 - 37 inches and is 3.6 - 4.9 feet in length, excluding its tail, which reaches a length of 24 - 32 inches. The weight may vary according to age, health, sex or subspecies. In adults, the weight is usually between 75 and 140 lb. The size difference between male and female is not as great as in other large felines.
Did you know… the word “Cheetah” is derived from the Hindi word “Chita”, meaning “spotted one”.
The Cheetah is one of the most sociable lesser cats. It consists of three main social groups: females and their young, male "coalitions" and lone males. In places where there are no other large carnivores, a community can extend up to 19 individuals. Cheetah coalitions are more successful in hunting, better in defending their territory and finding mates.
Cheetah is the world's fastest land animal. Source: Unsplash
Did you know… Cheetahs have been known to swim, although they do not like to?
The Cheetah is unique among cats in that it kills its prey similarly to dogs. Although it is a very good hunter, only about 20 % of prey hunts end in success. It hunts small to medium-sized prey weighing 44 to 132 lb. – primarily Impala, Thomson's Gazelle and Grant's Gazelle. Studies have found that about 10 to 15 % of Cheetah catches are taken by other predators, such as Lions or Hyenas.
Cheetahs can mate all year round and give birth to 3 - 6 kittens after 90-95 days of gestation. Owing to other predators, however, they have a high mortality rate and only about 5% of cubs will survive 1 year. Thanks to greater social ties, the young stay with their mother for up to 18 months, learning survival skills from her. In captivity, Cheetahs reproduce very poorly.
In the wild, the Cheetah lives for 12 years, and in captivity for 20 years.
Comparison of Cheetah size with humans. Source: viaGood
Did you know that … the Cheetah is not one of the Great Cats, because it does not have a floating hyoid bone in its neck and it can not roar, therefore it is a Lesser Cat?
Subspecies and their Distribution In 2017, a working group of cat classification specialists from the IUCN revised the taxonomy of felines and recognized four subspecies as valid.
South African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa at sunset. Source: Wikipedia
Southeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus Jubatus) These Cheetah are found in East and South Africa. Since 2016, the largest population of almost 4 000 individuals has been scattered across Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
Northwest African Cheetah. Source: Wikipedia
Northwest African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus Hecki) This subspecies lives in Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. According to the IUCN Red List, it is critically endangered. In 2016, the largest population of 191 individuals was located in the Adrar des Ifoghas, Ahaggar and Tassili n'Ajjer in South-eastern Algeria and North-eastern Mali.
Northeast African Cheetah. Source: Wikipedia
Northeast African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus Soemmeringii) This subspecies is found in the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan in small and highly fragmented populations. In 2016, the largest population of 238 individuals was located in the northern part of CAR and in the south-east of Chad.
Asiatic Cheetah in Iran. Source: Wikipedia
Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus Venaticus) This is the only species living in Asia and its occurrence is limited to Central Iran. According to the IUCN Red List, it is critically endangered. Since 2016, it has been estimated that only 43 individuals survived in 3 subpopulations scattered on Iran's central plateau.
Distribution of recognized Cheetahs. Source: viaGood
Did you know… if necessary, a Cheetah needs to drink water only once every 3 - 4 days?
Fascinating facts The Cheetah is in many ways a very interesting cat, differing in some elements from the typical physical form of felines. Its head is small and rounded with a short snout; it has long legs and a long tail. Its morphology can be compared to that of a Greyhound. Unlike most felines, it does not have fully retractable claws. This assists in better traction when running.
The incredible measured speed of Sarah (“the polka-dotted missile”) was 61 mph. Cheetah acceleration is just as amazing. A Cheetah can accelerate up to 47 mph in 2 seconds or from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds!
Cheetah Communication Their vocal expression is "almost" like that of a domestic cat. The Cheetah can not roar like a Lion, but instead meows and purrs.
Cheetah vocalizations can be further classified into one of three categories:
- Pulsed sounds include "chirrs", "pr-prs", "gargles", "gurgling", "purring", and "growling".
- Tonal sounds such as "chirping", "howling", and "yelping".
- Noisy sounds like "hissing".
- As a threat escalates, a Cheetah will crouch and begin to moan, followed quite often by growling and hissing.
- The next phase of a Cheetah's vocalization response is growling, which is often combined with hissing and moaning sounds.
- The agonistic response usually ends as the Cheetah creates a spitting sound, which is often uniquely combined with forcefully hitting one or both front paws to the ground.
- Hissing sounds occur both before and immediately after the spit/paw-hit behavior.
- Purring is used when the Cheetah feels content, usually heard with mothers and cubs.
Cheetah is a victim of the black market. It is a social status symbol.
Cheetah populations are extremely vulnerable and fragmented, which is a cause of concern for their future.
Illegal Trade and Poaching Live Cheetahs are captured and illegally sold on the wild animal black market. Mostly the target of this trade is the Arabian Peninsula, where they are regarded as a symbol of social status. Wealthy elites from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates often brag about them on social networks. Cheetahs are also hunted for their prized skin.
Conflict between Cheetahs and Humans The decline in Cheetah natural prey leads to more frequent attacks on livestock. In retaliation, local farmers hunt Cheetahs and kill them. Due to the expanding civilization, agriculture and cattle breeding, this is a never-ending sad and vicious cycle.
Loss of Natural Habitats As the human population grows and expands, agriculture, new roads and settlements are destroying the open grasslands that the Cheetah calls home. It needs large areas of interconnected habitats for its survival. About 76 % of the most known species of Cheetahs live in unprotected areas. Diseases With an expanding human population, Cheetahs are more exposed to non-native animals and may suffer from infectious diseases spread by domestic cats.
Fighting poachers and working with the locals can save Cheetahs.
To effectively deal with this threat, great material and technological support is needed for wildlife rangers, as well as increasing pressure on governments and organizations. Stricter law enforcement and zero tolerance of poachers and traffickers are essential.
How can YOU help? Support anti-poaching measures and reject illegal trade in wildlife.
Work with communities and minimize conflicts It is necessary to engage local communities in creating sustainable solutions for agricultural growth and the settlement of new areas. Cheetahs and farmers will each gain a space where they can live without interference. It is also important to work with local communities to create safe paddock areas for cattle that protect them from predators.
Cheetahs with monitoring collars. Source: Unsplash
Support Monitoring and Scientific Research Monitoring the movement of Cheetahs is important to achieve their protection. The use of camera traps and monitoring devices assesses the quality of the population and evaluates possible risks from poachers, local farmers and predators.
Education Better public education can secure the future of all species, including the Cheetah. Hand in hand with better community awareness, Ecotourism and the fostering of national pride and international interest in the Cheetah and all indigenous wildlife, are viable solutions for saving the Cheetah and our amazing wildlife heritage.
