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Cheetah
Scientific Name:
Acinonyx jubatus
Habitat:
Savanna – both open and more densely vegetated.
Range:
Cheetahs are found in Africa, south of the Sahara, as well as Iran and adjacent areas of Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
Average Size:
Height: 2 to 3 feet at the shoulder
Length: 3½ to 4½ feet
Weight: 75 to 145 pounds
Tail: 30 inches long
(Males tend to be a bit larger and weigh about 10 pounds more than females.)
Description:
The cheetah has a small head, high-set eyes and small, flattened ears. Although its body is spotted, the cheetah does not have spots on its face. It has distinctive "tear" stripes running from the corner of each eye down the side of its nose. The cheetah’s legs are very long in relation to its body, allowing it to run at incredible speeds.
Life Span:
In zoos, cheetahs may live up to 17 years; in the wild, they may live 8 to 10 years.
Diet:
In the wild, cheetahs eat primarily hoofed mammals weighing less than 90 pounds, including gazelles, kudus, springbok, gray duikers and impala. They will also eat smaller game such as hares, warthogs and birds.
Status in the Wild:
The cheetah is listed as vulnerable on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species. It is considered endangered and is protected by Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES is an international treaty controlling the trade of threatened and endangered plants and animals.
Behavior:
Female cheetahs live alone, except when raising cubs. They rarely associate with other cheetahs, except when ready to mate. The males live in small, permanent groups called coalitions, which
are usually made up of two to four brothers.
To avoid lions and leopards, cheetahs usually hunt in the middle of the day. Cheetahs stalk their prey, approaching to within 50 feet before dashing out from cover and sprinting, at speeds of up
to 70 miles per hour, toward their prey. Cheetahs grab their victims’ throats and suffocate them within a few minutes. After securing a meal, they may drag it to nearby cover, but despite their
best efforts, their kills are often stolen by larger predators and picked at by hordes of vultures.
Reproduction:
Cheetahs breed throughout the year, and their gestation lasts 91 to 95 days. Litter size can range from one to eight cubs, but cheetahs usually have three. Cubs are born weighing 8 to 11 ounces, and it can take up to 11 days before they open their eyes. Cheetahs reach sexual maturity at about 21 months.
Amazing facts:
The cheetah is the fastest mammal on land, capable of speed bursts of up to 70 mph!
In the 16th century, emperors and other royalty hunted gazelles with trained cheetahs!
How You Can Help:
You can help the cheetah and other threatened or endangered species by joining the volunteer team at the Oregon Zoo and getting involved with other conservation groups. Many organizations focus on conservation in Africa, including the Cheetah Conservation Fund, the African Wildlife Foundation, Tusk Trust, Conserve Africa International, the World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Awareness Foundation and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Please do not buy products made from wild animal parts.
For More Information:
Cheetahs of the Serengeti Plains, by T.M. Caro (University of Chicago Press, 1994)
The Cheetah Conservation Fund
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