Cheetah - Five Sisters Zoo

Cheetahs have a long, slender body with a thin tail and long legs. Their distinctive coat of black spots on a tawny coat is unique to each individual, allowing cheetahs in the wild to identify each other. Black fur forms a line from the inner corner of their eyes to their mouth, with a black ring of fur encircling the tip of their tail. Cheetahs are not able to roar like other big cats, instead using purrs, chips and other vocalizations to communicate.

Facts

  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Weight: 35-64 kg
  • Length:  2.12-2.40m including tail
  • Habitat: Africa, specifically Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Namibia, Botswana and some other fragmented population, including a small group in Iran; savannah, shrubland, rocky or mountainous areas, and grassland.
  • Life span: 14 years in the wild, in human care, they can live as long as 20 years.

Adapted to Survive

  • Able to reach 70mph in short bursts of speed to take down prey
  • Hard foot pads, flexible spine and long legs support speed and quick direction changes
  • Coat colour and markings hides them in the vegetation while they approach prey
  • Semi-retractable claws (unique in big cats) provide traction in the ground while running

Threats

  • Habitat fragmentation and loss
  • Poaching
  • Climate change
  • Human encroachment reduces food sources and territory use

IUCN Conservation Status

Vulnerable

< Back to list

© Copyright 2024 Five sisters Zoo