Cheetah

« The most athletic of the felines »

Unique physical characteristics

Well known as the king of speed, the cheetah has some extraordinary attributes

The cheetah is a carnivorous mammal and is the most athletic of the felines. Native to Africa and western Asia, this predator is part of the Felidae family and has a combination of attributes that no other animal possesses: a slender body with a skeleton that is designed for speed, a long tail to provide balance, long legs with non-retractable claws to provide excellent grip on the ground, and a spotted coat to blend in with its surroundings… The cheetah is an outstanding hunter whose main advantages over its prey are its speed (it can reach top speeds of nearly 70 mph), and agility.

Guépard - Animaux extraordinaires du ZooParc

Did you know?

Beauval’s cheetah brotherhood

The “Cheetah Territory” was created in 2018 to accommodate this new species at the ZooParc. It includes 6,000 m2 of land on which our 6 males (all brothers or half-brothers) can indulge in their favourite activity (apart perhaps from taking naps): running!

Communication

The Beauval Nature association supports a research programme on cheetah vocalisations. Though better known for their physical capabilities, these felines have developed a distinctive social system and a complex vocal repertoire.

Cheetahs employ growls, purrs, chirps, meows, and howls to communicate; with the type of vocalisation used changing depending on the context. This ongoing study aims to determine what these vocalisations mean.

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Vulnerable

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Learn more about the species

Range

Asia, Africa

Diet

Carnivore
Gestation period

3 months
Litter size

1 to 6 young
Habitat

Pastures, Savannahs, Deserts

An unusual social system

Females generally live alone or with their young. Males, on the other hand, form coalitions made up of several individuals. Sometimes these coalitions include members of the same family (brothers) who stay together for years, or even for life.

Cubs in danger

Females generally have fairly large litters of 5 to 6 young in order to compensate for the cubs’ high mortality rate. This is because young cheetahs fall victim to many predators such as hyenas, lions, jackals etc. Unfortunately, cheetah cubs are also illegally captured to be sold as pets.

Domesticated animals

For a number of years now, it has been the latest fashion trend to own a cheetah as a pet, especially in the countries that surround the Persian Gulf. These activities, which are entirely illegal, are contributing to the decline of the species, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifying Acinonyx jubatus as “vulnerable” and the Asian subspecies, venaticus, as “critically endangered”.