C is for Cheetah

Resting but alert

Thanks to a dear friend, I now have almost 50 great photos taken in Zimbabwe for my A-Z of that country. Thank you, Judy, for letting me use your lovely shots.

The cheetah subspecies found in Zimbabwe is the Acinonyx jubatus jubatus. 

The cheetah is the fastest land animal on the planet, achieving 112 to 120 km/h over short distances of up to 500 m, according to Wikipedia, and can accelerate from 0 to more than 100 km/h in just 3 seconds!

These speeds are made possible by the extra grip afforded by its semi-retractable claws (i.e. not fully retractable), its streamlined body and enlarged heart and lungs which efficiently circulate lots of oxygen taken in by its large nostrils.

However, it cannot climb upright trees due to the nature of the pads on its paws, but it can leap onto branches.

Sometimes confused with a leopard, the cheetah has a shorter but taller body and a longer tail which, interestingly, helps it to turn suddenly while moving at high speeds. The cheetah's body is more 'aerodynamic', its spots are different (the leopard's spots look more like 'rosettes') and it has long 'tear-streak' lines running from the corners of its eyes down to its mouth. 

It lives in areas of savannah, where its spots afford it some camouflage. Good eyesight over long distances and the capacity for high speed makes the adult cheetah a good daytime hunter. However, the cubs are very vulnerable to predators and mortality is extremely high.

The cheetah is included in the list of vulnerable species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Fortunately The South African Cheetah Preservation Foundation is working with other countries, including Zimbabwe, on the protection of this beautiful, graceful creature.