| Latin name: Acinonyx jubatus | | | | of the cubs seems to resemble that of the honey |
| | | | | badger. The upper part of the body is white to grey |
| The cheetah is the fastest running mammal in the | | | | in colour with the lower parts almost black. The |
| world, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/hour. From | | | | manner, in which the youngsters walk, is very similar |
| standstill to a sprint they can reach 70 km/hour in 2 | | | | to that of the honey badger. |
| seconds, then 100 km/hour in just 3 seconds! The | | | | Many animals including large predators are very wary |
| cheetah can only run at these high speeds for 300 / | | | | of honey badgers, as they have earned a reputation |
| 400 meters before having to stop, if not it could | | | | for being rather aggressive and tough to kill. For the |
| cause possible overheating of its body. The body of | | | | cheetah’s cubs to mimic such a fierce animal is a |
| a cheetah is built for speed. They have small heads | | | | great advantage, as this may increase their chances |
| for less air resistance, very large nostrils to allow | | | | of survival against other predators for the first few |
| maximum oxygen intake to fuel their muscles, a | | | | weeks after birth. By 12 – 15 months of age the |
| slender build with long legs and a tail that flattens | | | | cub’s colouration is much the same as the adults. |
| towards the end to act as a rudder to help keep its | | | | |
| balance while running at high speed. | | | | Unfortunately the survival rate of cheetah cubs is |
| The cheetah is not very powerful compared to most | | | | very low with a possible 1 in every three cubs living |
| other large predators, so it needs its prey to run in | | | | to 2 years of age. Many cubs are killed by the larger |
| order to use the prey’s momentum to pull it | | | | predators, especially in the first few weeks after |
| down to the ground. When chasing after its prey, the | | | | birth, so to keep the cubs as safe as possible the |
| cheetah uses its dew claw to hook onto the | | | | female moves the cubs from hiding place to another |
| animal’s lower leg to try trip it. If successful, it | | | | every 3 or 4 days. |
| then uses its jaws to suffocate the prey by a bite | | | | |
| to the neck or by using is mouth to cover the | | | | A female with cubs needs to hunt on a regular basis |
| prey’s whole muzzle, which prevents the animal | | | | and as they grow older she may need to hunt every |
| from making too much noise while being suffocated. | | | | day, especially if she has 3 or 4 cubs. From the age |
| Too much noise from its prey in distress may attract | | | | of 6 months the female starts teaching the cubs to |
| the attention of unwanted visitors such as hyenas | | | | hunt and by 14 months the cubs regularly join the |
| and lions that will inevitably steal the cheetahs kill, as | | | | female on hunts. By 16 – 18 months the cubs are |
| the cheetah would rather flee than defend it. | | | | ready to hunt by themselves which is also the time |
| The cheetah being a rather weak predator loses up | | | | when they are chased away by their mother, to be |
| to 90% of its kills to lion, hyena, leopard and even | | | | independent of her for the first time. |
| packs of jackals, so when a kill is made it quickly eats | | | | |
| as much of the soft meat as possible before it is | | | | Due to the excessive trophy hunting of the past, the |
| stolen. | | | | cheetah population in many game reserves is |
| | | | | seriously low. The Kruger National park’s cheetah |
| The larger predators are more active at night and | | | | numbers are currently dwindling on about 300 |
| sleep during the warmer daylight hours making it a lot | | | | individuals, resulting in a very weak gene-pool. |
| safer for cheetah hunt during the day. A possible | | | | Namibia has the highest population of between 6000 |
| adaptation that the cheetah has is the black tear lines | | | | and 9000. |
| that start around the edges of the eyes, running | | | | Fortunately there are a number of breeding programs |
| down to the outer edges of the mouth. The dark | | | | which have had relative success in breeding and |
| colour aids its vision by absorbing excess light, thus | | | | introducing cheetah into the wild and by introducing |
| preventing too much glare into the eyes. | | | | specimens from Namibia into these breeding projects |
| | | | | it helps to strengthen the gene-pool and give hope |
| The female, after a gestation of 90 – 95 days | | | | for the future survival of the cheetah. |
| gives birth to 3, sometimes 4 cubs. The colouration | | | | |