Cheetah

The cheetah is a slim, spotted cat with long legs and a small, round head. Its sandy coat is covered in little black spots, and two dark lines run down its face from the corners of its eyes, like painted tears. Its long tail helps it steer and stay balanced when it turns.

The cheetah is famous for one amazing thing: it is the fastest runner on land. In a short burst it can race as fast as a car on a motorway. Its bendy back, long legs, and gripping paws all help it zoom across the ground. A cheetah can only run this fast for a little while, so afterwards it needs to stop and catch its breath.

Cheetahs hunt in the daytime, when big cats like lions are usually resting. They quietly creep close to plant eaters such as gazelles, and then use a quick chase to catch their meal. Hunting in the day helps cheetahs avoid stronger animals that might try to steal their food.

Unlike most big cats, a cheetah cannot roar. Instead it chirps almost like a bird, and it purrs like a house cat when it is happy. Mother cheetahs raise their cubs on their own and keep them close for well over a year, teaching them how to run and hunt. Some grown-up brothers stay together in small groups called coalitions.

Cheetahs are a vulnerable animal, which means their numbers are getting smaller. Only about six and a half thousand are left in the wild, living mostly in Africa with a very small group in Asia. They need wide open land and plenty of wild animals to chase. Around the world, people are protecting these open spaces and helping cheetahs and farmers share the land.