CHEETAH
HABITAT/LOCATION: The cheetah can be found in Eastern and Southern Africa, with the largest
population found in Namibia. They inhabit grasslands and open woodlands. They need an environment with
bushes, tall grass and other large plants to hide from predators.
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS:
 Fastest land animal on earth.
 Cheetah can reach speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour during a short sprint.
 They are a solitary animal, except for a female with her cubs.
 Cheetah comes from a Hindi word meaning “spotted one”.
 Unlike all other cats, cheetah has semi-retractable claws which provide a high degree of traction for
running and launching attacks.
 Cheetah cubs have a high mortality rate.
 Unlike other big cats, cheetah do not roar, instead they make a chirp sound.
WHAT THEY EAT: Cheetah are carnivores and eat a variety of small animals. They rely on their remarkable
acceleration abilities to overtake fast moving prey such as small antelope, gaming birds, rabbits and the young
of large animals. They will likely select the old, injured or young of the species whose speed is impaired.
SIZE AND WEIGHT: An adult cheetah will weigh between 45 – 57 kg and reach a height of 75 cm. The
expected life span of a cheetah is 10-15 years.
REASONS FOR ENDANGERED STATUS: For many years the cheetah was hunted for its beautiful coat.
Man has also destroyed many of the areas where the cheetah lived, along with its food supply. In 1900 there
were approximately 100,000 cheetah worldwide. Presently numbers are estimated to be 9,000 to 12,000.
WHERE TO SEE THEM WHILE “ON SAFARI”: The cheetah can be seen in the special breeding
compound as you leave the 1st Game Reserve.
AFRICAN LION SAFARI’S ACHIEVEMENTS: On May 29, 2001 African Lion Safari welcomed its first
cheetah cubs. After a three month gestation period, Marikele and her brother Khyber were born to first time
parents, Kashmir and Hontas. To date, over 40 cheetah have been born at the park since then. It is African
Lion Safari’s hope that its successful breeding programme for this endangered species will continue to provide
healthy specimens for future generations.
African Lion Safari has been dedicated to conservation and education for many years and has been recognized
many times for its exemplary work, including being presented with CAZA’s Thomas Baines award for its
cheetah breeding and management program. The Baines award is the most prestigious award given by
Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums.