Cheetah

Today’s photo is of a Cheetah at @Australia Zoo. I seriously have a thing for cats, both domestic right through to the big cats! How can you not love an animal who is so independent and aloof but is so unco-ordinated and does weird things (just thinking of our domestic cats here at home – very weird, trust me)
Cheetahs are the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 100 km per hr (62 mph) with a stride length as long as 7m (23ft) at full pace. This means the cheetah spends more then half the time airborne. Cheetahs employ hunting tactics specific to the characteristics of their prey. The hunt comprises of 2 phases – the 1st involves rapid acceleration to catch up with the prey. The 2nd involves slowing down in the last seconds of the chase whereby the cheetah will predict and match the movements of the prey. The tail of the Cheetah helps to steer them as it runs, like a boat rudder. Cheetahs have amazing agility, often highlighted during hunting chases where they can jump sideways, change directions and slowing down within an instant. They can maintain a chase for between 200-300m (656-984ft). Unlike big cats cheetahs are unable to roar. They are closer to your domestic house cat in that they can purr. The cheetah can have between 2,000 and 3,000 spots, to help it blend into surroundings when hunting or hiding from predators. With fewer than 7,000 adult and adolescent cheetahs in the wild, cheetahs are classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The species is already almost extinct in Asia, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in one isolated pocket of Iran.
Source: Fact Animal, Treehugger
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