Cheetahs

Mostly found in Africa and some small pockets of population in Iran and Russia, the cheetahs are critically endangered and it is a race to save these beautiful, intelligent animals.

The lion is said to be majestic, the leopard ferocious and shrewd. But elegant and graceful best describes the cheetah. The cheetah is smaller than the other two cats, but by far the fastest at speeds of 70 miles per hour it can run faster than all other animals.

A Cheetah has a body built for high speeds. They have small heads and jaws, long slender legs, a flexible backbone, and special pads on its feet for traction. A long tail with a heavy tip also helps to balance when attempting high speed turns and maneuvers. They cannot fully retract their claws which helps them to achieve high speeds.

SPECIAL ESSAY about Cheetahs by J.C. LISTER


Cheetah at dusk. This one was very close to a settlement
© Siggi Hosenfeld

Two cheetahs, mom and adult cub, just before dusk
© Siggi Hosenfeld

Cheetahs have distinctive black "tear stripes" that connect from the inside corner of each eye to the mouth that may serve as an antiglare device for daytime hunting.

Cheetahs don't growl. They hiss or give a bird-like chirp instead, because they lack the vocal anatomy to roar. They also have excellent eyesight for judging distances while hunting.

Cheetahs also have a distinct family life. Mothers typically have from one to six cubs, which are born blind and toothless. By five weeks old, however, their eyes are open and the young cats have developed a taste for fresh meat. But the cubs won't start hunting on their own until they are nearly two years old, when their mother leaves them.


Those 3 cubs where having fun with these jeeps and no fear of exploring © Siggi Hosenfeld

Females are usually solitary animals except during mating or when with cubs. Males tend to live in groups of 2 or 3 to protect territory. These males usually are brothers. Competition for females is so fierce that half of the young males may die .

The Swahili name for cheetah is Duma. In the Hindi language "cheetah" means "spotted one". They can weigh between 110 to 140 pounds, with a lifespan of 10 to 20 years.

In Kenya, some efforts are being made to limit the number of tourist vehicles around a cheetah and their kills, to ensure that they are not completely surrounded. (They will prey on Thompson's gazelles, Impalas, hares, young ostriches, medium sized antelope and other small or weak animals. While hunting, cheetahs trip up their prey and then finish it off by strangling it's kill). A cheetah research project is underway in the Masai Mara. Conservation is the key to this awe inspiring animal and we must work hard to achieve that goal.


This cheetah was with a very young cub, still with a lot of fluffy hair all over © Siggi Hosenfeld

Kike on top of a 4x4 jeep; her favorite hang out place © Siggi Hosenfeld

Cheetahs are found in open and partially open savannas. Good sightings can be found in the Nairobi National Park and the Masai Mara National Reserve.

To see pictures and learn more about the cheetahs in Kenya, check out the latest release by the ‘Big Cat Diary’. It is an amazing book by Jonathan Scott and Angela Scott. Click her to learn more about cheetahs