|
Post by kiarea on Dec 2, 2005 22:06:53 GMT 10
;DCheetahs are very lovely animals. ;D
|
|
|
Post by katesmith on Dec 4, 2005 12:30:32 GMT 10
Cheetahs Fact Sheet from Defenders of Wildlife STATUS: Endangered DESCRIPTION: The fastest land animal in the world, the cheetah is a marvel of evolution. Capable of running up to 70 miles per hour, the cheetah’s slender, long-legged body is built for speed. Its spotted coat, small head and ears, and distinctive "tear stripes" from the corner of the eyes down the sides of the nose make the cheetah highly recognizable among the large cats of Africa. SIZE: The cheetah is smaller than other big cats, measuring 44 to 53 inches long with a tail length of 26 to 33 inches. Cheetahs usually weigh 110 to 140 pounds. POPULATION: An estimated 9,000 to 12,000 cheetahs remain in the wild. LIFESPAN: Cheetahs live an average of ten to 12 years. RANGE: Once found throughout Africa and Asia, cheetahs are now confined to parts of eastern and southwestern Africa. HABITAT: Cheetahs are found in open and partially open savannas. FOOD: Cheetahs rely on a burst of speed to catch such swift prey as gazelles, wildebeest calves, impalas and smaller hoofed animals, knocking their prey to the ground and delivering a suffocating bite to the neck. They must eat quickly to avoid losing their kill to other carnivores. BEHAVIOR: Cheetahs are typically solitary creatures. Females raise their cubs for about a year. Males sometimes live with a small group of brothers from the same litter. Cheetahs hunt in late mornings and early evenings. Chases last from 20 to 60 seconds. Only half are successful. OFFSPRING: Two to four cubs are born to a litter. Cubs are smoky grey in color with long wooly hair, called a mantle, running along their backs. This mantle is thought to help camouflage cubs in grass, concealing them from predators. Mothers move cubs to new hiding places every few days. At five to six weeks, cubs follow the mother and begin eating from her kills. Cubs stay with their mother for about a year. THREATS: The future of the cheetah is doubtful because of increasing loss of habitat, declines in prey, high cub mortality rates and conflict with ranchers. PROTECTION: Endangered Species Act, *CITES Appendix I *Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty with more than 144 member countries. Appendix I listed species cannot be traded commercially. Appendix II listed species can be traded commercially only if it does not harm their survival. www.awf.orgwww.cheetah.org
|
|
|
Post by Angel on Dec 5, 2005 20:04:15 GMT 10
Thank you for info Kate very interesting indeed
|
|
|
Post by Owen Watkin on Dec 9, 2005 7:09:16 GMT 10
The Cheetah is so beautiful it's my favourite of all the big cats.
|
|
|
Post by Angel on Dec 13, 2005 2:37:05 GMT 10
They look so very gracefull animals Owen dont they
|
|
|
Post by katesmith on Dec 13, 2005 21:18:20 GMT 10
Not only graceful but speedy as well luckily there speed only lasts for small distances.
|
|
|
Post by kiarea on Dec 17, 2005 19:05:44 GMT 10
Thats good you wouldn't be able to run that fast, you might just be dinner.lol
|
|
|
Post by Angel on Dec 19, 2005 0:13:36 GMT 10
Yea Kate i think its 70 mph they can run
|
|
|
Post by katesmith on Dec 19, 2005 7:31:49 GMT 10
Wow that's incredible Angel.
|
|
|
Post by Angel on Dec 19, 2005 19:47:53 GMT 10
Yea Kate wish we could run like that would get to town in 2 mins lol
|
|