Cheetah

Range:
Scattered in Iran and sub-Saharan Africa. Namibia has the largest free ranging population.

Habitat:
Found in open grasslands and many live on commercial farms. Have been seen using open woodlands and scrub habitat.

Young:
Average 4 cubs

Gestation:
90-98 days

Diet (wild):
Thompson Gazelle, impala, kudu, gernuk, dik-dik, springbok and hares

Diet (zoo):
carnivore diet

Life spans (wild):
12-14 years

Life spans (captivity):
average 10 years but can live to 21 years

Status:
25 countries prohibit hunting of cheetahs and three allow limited hunting.

Threats:
Decline in prey, habitat loss, poaching and conflict with ranchers

Anatomy/Physiology:
The cheetah has a slender, long-legged body with blunt semi-retractile claws. Its coat is tan with small, round, black spots, and the fur is coarse and short. 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, reduce glare from the sun. The cheetah's flexible spine, oversized liver, enlarged heart, wide nostrils, increased lung capacity, and thin muscular body make this cat the swiftest hunter in Africa.

Social/Family units:
Females are solitary, except when raising cubs. The first 18 months of a cub’s life they learn how to hunt and avoid predators. At 18 months the mother leaves the cubs, which then form a sibling group that will stay together for the next 6 months. When the female cubs are 2 years old they leave the group and the young males stay together for life. The males can live in coalitions, made up of brothers from the same liter, or they can live alone.

Communication:
Cheetahs make chirping sounds, and hiss or spit when angered or threatened. They purr very loudly when content. They cannot roar.

Defensive/Aggressive behavior:
More likely to run away from danger than stay and fight.

Locomotion:
The cheetah is the fastest animal on land, reaching speeds of 70 mph. They can cover 23-26 feet in one stride. At two points in the stride, no feet touch the ground.

Any interesting story/fact:
The Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia has started the Anatolian Shepherd Livestock Guarding Dog program in an effort to reduce the number of cheetahs trapped or shot for destroying livestock. Dogs are provided to ranchers who are trained to care for the dogs. As puppies, the dogs are placed in the field with the herd so they bond with the herd and become the herd’s protector. When a dog senses a cheetah it barks loudly and drives it off. Since its inception, the CCF has reported a dramatic impact on lowering the number of wild cheetahs trapped and killed in Namibia