A few Interesting facts about Cheetahs!

Photo courtesy of PMdT Photography

• The cheetah has a small head with high-set eyes.
• Black "tear marks", which run from the corner of its eyes down the sides of the nose to its mouth, keep the sun out of its eyes and make it one of the most deadly hunters in the animal kingdom
• The cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds of up to 120km/h (74mph).
• One stride covers from 6 – 9 metres (19 – 29ft).
• It can cover 28m (91ft) in one second

Photo courtesy of Idwala Game Lodge

• Cheetah coat is very specific. It’s coarse, short and has up to 2000 black spots which help him camouflage itself while hunting preys.
• Cheetahs will catch their preys within 1 minute or leave it if it takes too long as it cannot run at full speed for long distances.
• Cheetahs do not roar like lions, but they purr just like a domestic cat when content.
• Once a common animal found on five continents, the cheetah is now an Endangered Species

Photo courtesy of Idwala Game Lodge






The scientific name for cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus – Acinonyx meaning ‘non-moving claws’ referring to the non retractable claws andjubatus, which means maned, referring to the mantle on a young cheetahs back.










The cheetah’s long muscular tail acts like a rudder, giving it balance when it turns at high speed during a chase










The cheetah needs a large area of land to survive, but with the expanding of the human race this area is becoming smaller and smaller. The cheetahs' survival depends on people and our ability to manage the wild population and protect its habitat