Common name: Cheetah
Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus jubatus
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
At the zoo: Come say hello to our cheetah family! They are four brothers (7 years old): Kyle, Klaus, Kheops, and Fehli. You can find them near the center of the zoo beside the lemurs.
Habitat:
Cheetahs are found in Iran and throughout Africa. They prefer open and partially open savannahs. Trees, rocky outcrops and termite mounds are used as lookout points.
Diet:
A cheetah's diet consists of medium-sized antelope, and small mammals and birds such as hares, warthogs, and guineafowl.
Median Life Expectancy:
11 years
Biology:
Adult cheetahs weigh between 21 and 72 kg. They are covered with small dark spots, except around the throat and abdomen, for camouflage. Black 'tear' marks under their eyes, called malar stripes, help keep the sun from affecting their vision.
The cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal. It can reach speeds of up to 113 km per hour and can accelerate from 0 - 100 km per hour in 3 seconds. Cheetahs make use of their high speed to catch their prey but are only able to sustain this top speed for a few hundred meters. If they succeed in their hunt, they require a few minutes to rest before eating and sometimes lose their prey to other predators, particularly lions and spotted hyenas.
Cheetahs have been reduced to 10% of their historic range in Africa. In Asia, they are limited to the central deserts of Iran where they are protected. Depletion of prey, fragmentation and loss of habitat, as well as persecution and poaching are major threats.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that Cheetah claws are non-retractable like a dogs?
