The sleek cheetah is built for speed and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in second’s .However; it can run only 400 to 600 yards before it is exhausted. The oversized nostrils, flexible spine, enlarged heard and increased lung capacities make it the swiftest hunter on land. Blunt, semi non-retractable claws grip the ground like cleats for traction and the long muscular tail acts as a stabilizer, or rudder during a chase. Their stride is about the same as the stride of a racehorse running at its top speed, about 43 mph. Cheetahs are completely airborne almost half their running time. The prey is hit from behind with a downward stroke of the forepaw. The cheetah lunges for the throat and secures a grip on the windpipe. Small canines only penetrate a short distance, but the skull is designed to give the cheetah a viselike grip. Even with all these adaptations, only about half the chases for prey are successful. Cheetah will only eat freshly killed meat and lose many kills to larger predators such as lions and hyenas. These predators will also kill cheetah cubs and account for an extremely high percentage of cub mortality in the wild. Female cheetahs without cubs live a solitary life with large territories which often overlap with related adult females. Males and females come together only during breeding episodes which can take place any time during the year. The male plays no part in the rearing of offspring. A cheetah mother will keep her litter with her for about one and one half years teaching them to hunt and care for themselves. The males will then disperse together, usually to live as a coalition for life. Female offspring leave separately to find and establish their own home range.
Communication among cheetah is achieved with a series of purrs, growls, chirps and hisses. A non-roaring cat, the cheetah can sound exactly like a bird especially when young.
Fossil Rim has played an important role in the conservation of cheetahs since 1986 when the first litter of babies was born. Since then, over 100 cubs have been born in our Cheetah Breeding Program. Breeding success has been historically difficult in the captive population. Fossil Rim has diligently worked to provide a comfortable, stimulating living environment along with multiple mate choices (especially important for cheetah females) a varied diet, large enclosures and as little stress as possible. Fossil Rim has two cheetah areas, which, together, can house about 25 cats One area is located on the Drive Through and another is in the Intensive Management Area, which is accessible only to Behind the Scenes Tours. |
