Cheetahs

Cheetahs  Cheetahs are mostly found in the savannah. A Savannah is a wide open range with a hot climate. Cheetahs use tall grass to hide themselves when they are hunting for their prey. Their diet includes taples gazelles, wildbeast calves, impalas, and smaller animals. In Africa there is over 100,000 cheetahs in the Savannah. There are about 200 cheetahs in isolated homes. They hunt in the early evening or late morning and they can catch their prey in about 20-60 seconds. Once a cheetah catches their prey, they knock it to the ground and then they suffocate them with a bite to there lower neck. Male cheetahs are usually in groups of other male cheetahs that are their brother, while the females are by themself taking care of the cubs. The famales usually have about 2-4 cubs. The cubs usually have to take care of themself for about a year, then they're on their own. (1)  ** Height  ** 2 ½ -3 feet at shoulders **Length ** 44-53 inches (tail length of 26-33 inches) **Weight ** 110-140 pounds **Top Speed ** 70mph **Lifespan **  10-12 years (2)  When cubs are first born they are a very smoky color and have long woolly hair. Cubs have a mantle running down the center of there back that camouflages themselfeves from predators. Mothers have to move their baby cubs at least every few days. Today there are about 9,000 to about 12,000 cheetahs in Africa. (3) Cheetahs are usually not seen as often as other wild cats. They have now gone extinct in many areas due to shrinking habitat. In some areas, 50 to 75% of cheetah cubs die before 3 months, they are highly susceptible to disease at this age. The name cheetah comes from an Indian word meaning "spotted one." Young cubs have a long gray-blue coat and a black underbelly that rapidly lightens and becomes spotted.(4) Cheetahs can breed at anytime of the year that they want to. Females reach their breeding age by 21 or 22 months old. The males live in small permanent groups called coalitions, they are usually made up of brothers. They are drawn to females in heat, but only one male in a coalition usually mates with the female. On average, three cubs are born about three months after mating takes place. Until five or six weeks old, the cubs remain hidden. If she needs to move, the mother carries them from place to place. After five or six weeks, cubs follow their mothers and share her kills. Cheetah cubs wean at about three months old. (5) Once the cheetahs recover from killing their prey, they have to eat thier meal fast, or they can be chased away by leopards, lions, or even hyenas. Cheetahs are not strong enough to gaurd there prey from other animals so they only get one chance to eat their meal. When cheetahs get excited, they make a wierd bird-like noise and its so unique. Female cheetahs also use that same call to call their young. Cheetahs can also purr, growl, snarl, hiss, cough, moan, and bleat, but they can not roar like lions can. King cheetahs are very unique and have a long black stripe going down there back.(6)



References 1. Cheetahs. 2009. Defenders of Wildlife. 10 Feb 2009.  

2. Cheetahs. 2009. Defenders of Wildlife. 10 Feb 2009. <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: TTFFAC6BE8t00; mso-bidi-font-family: TTFFAC6BE8t00;"> <http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/cheetah.php>

3.<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: TTFFAC6BE8t00; mso-bidi-font-family: TTFFAC6BE8t00;"> Cheetahs. 2009. Defenders of Wildlife. 10 Feb 2009. <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: TTFFAC6BE8t00; mso-bidi-font-family: TTFFAC6BE8t00;"> <http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/cheetah.php>

4.Cheetahs. 1999. Friands of The National Zoo. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/fact-cheetah.cfm>

5.Cheetahs. 1999. Friends of the National Zoo. 26 Feb. 2009. <http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/fact-cheetah.cfm>

6.Cheetahs. 2009. Zoological Society of San Diego. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-cheetah.html>

7. Morris, Arthur. "Cheetahs Killing Baby Zebra." 2006. JPEG. Birds as Art. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.birdsasart.com/bn193.htm>

8.Dease, T. Dennis. "Baby Cheetah with Mom" 2005. JPEG. Photorena. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.photorena.com/photos/cheetahs-cups-cheetahs-big-cat.htm>