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Name || Cheetah

Scientific Name || Acinonyx jubatus

Conservation Status || Vulnerable

Habitat || Mainly southern and eastern Africa, Middle East and southern Asia.

Unique Features || 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. Covering seven-eight meters in a stride, with only one foot touching the ground at a time, the cheetah can reach a speed of 110 km/h in seconds. At two points in the stride, no feet touch the ground. It can run only 400 to 600 yards before it is exhausted; at this time it is extremely vulnerable to other predators, which may not only steal its prey, but attack it as well. Black "tear marks," which run from the corner of it's eyes down the sides of the nose to it's mouth, keep the sun out of it's eyes and aid in hunting. Social Behaviour || Female cheetahs live a very solitary life, preferring retreat to attack. The only time she will live with other cheetahs is when she is caring for her offspring. Male cheetahs live and hunt in groups of up to 5 animals, often all brothers, and may stay in this group for life. Diet || Different species of antelope (small antelope and the young of large antelope), warthog, hares, rodents, game birds and young zebra. Reproduction || Cheetah cubs are born in litters of up to eight and are blind at birth. Once their eyes are open their mother will move them to a different den every few days, to reduce the chance of a predator finding them. They are often killed by other predators (leopards, lions, hyenas, and baboons), so the mother tries to hide them while she goes hunting, but she will stay close to them at all other times. They will stay with her learning hunting skills until they are about two years old, and the siblings will often go hunting together. Life Cycle || In the wild cheetahs only live about 5 years but can get to 19 years in captivity. Relatives || There are two species of cheetah - the African and the Asian. Interesting Facts :   Cheetahs make chirping sounds, and hiss or spit when angered or threatened. They purr very loudly when content. Cheetahs are the only big cat that can purr. The cheetah's long association with humans dates back to the Sumerians, about 3,000 BC, where a leashed cheetah, with a hood on its head, is depicted on an official seal. In early Lower Egypt, it was known as the cat-goddess and was revered as a symbol of royalty. Tame cheetahs were kept as close companions to pharaohs, as a symbolic protection to the throne. Many statues and paintings of cheetahs have been found in royal tombs, and it was believed that the cheetah would quickly carry away the pharaoh's spirit to the after life. By the 18th and 19th dynasties, paintings indicated that the cheetah rivalled dogs in popularity as hunting companions.   Breeding Programme || Our cheetahs are not involved in a breeding programme. Environmental Conditions || The cheetah is a vulnerable species. Loss of habitat and the resulting lack of food have affected their numbers in both Africa and Asia. The cheetah became extinct in India in the 1950s. There are now only about 10,000 left in Africa and 250 in Asia. At Wellington Zoo || We have two young cheetahs, Charlie and Delta who Zoo visitors can get up close and personal with on a Cheetah encounter.

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