Endangered Species: The Cheetah

 (Acinonyx Jubatus)

The Cat
The cheetah is a large cat, which dwells on the plains of Africa. This cat is well known for being the fastest land animal in the world. In short bursts they can reach speeds of up to seventy miles an hour. However if he does not catch his prey within sixty seconds he gives up. Only  one out of two chases are successful.

Where it lives
The cheetah used to inhabit all of Africa and Asia but in recent years it has found itself confined to the western countries of Africa. It is a solitary animal and likes to hunt alone rather then hunting in packs. Females raise their cubs for about a year. Occasionally males from the same litter live and hunt together. They hunt in the morning and afternoon and like to spend the rest of the day in a tree.

The Problem
Recently humans and machinery have taken the cheetahs land away. Also the cubs are being killed by predators and are also dying at birth. Their skin is valuable, so poachers hunt them for money. It is not all bad news. More and more are living in wildlife parks. We must do our part to help the cheetah survive.

By: David & Robert