|
Cheetahs
 It can accelerate from zero to nearly 70 miles per hour in three seconds. Its immense nostrils let oxygen pour into its oversized lungs and heart as it chases down its prey, breathing an astonishing 150 times per minute. Its semi-retractable claws dig into the soil and its flowing tail swings like a rudder from side to side, allowing it to make turns so sharply angled and sure that they can make a gazelle seem clumsy in comparison.
With penetrating yellow eyes set high on its head, black tear-lines on its cheeks to shield those eyes from the sun, it stalks with stealth and grace, camouflaged by its golden spotted coat against the sun-streaked tall grass. At rest, it purrs, but it never roars – ever. Photo by Mike Crowther
It is the magnificent cheetah, the fastest animal on land, and one of the most beautiful creatures in the animal kingdom. It is unique among the big cats – a daylight hunter by sight, not scent, with its always visible claws, and its long, thin, deep-chested body and raffish spotted tail.
 During summer 2010, the Indianapolis Zoo opened its newest exhibit – Cheetah: The Race for Survival, and never has a name been so clearly expressive of the state of affairs. These simply gorgeous animals, so admired for their speed and grace, are in trouble. For a variety of reasons, their numbers are dwindling and unable to reproduce fast enough, their ultimate survival in their native ranges in Africa and Asia is problematic, at best. The situation is not hopeless, however. There are conservationists working diligently every day to preserve the cheetah, one of which, the Cheetah Conservation Fund, is supported directly by the Indianapolis Zoo’s new exhibit. Photo by Jackie Curts
Initially, the Indianapolis Zoo has five cheetahs on exhibit. Three are females, all littermates, born on June 25, 2007, at the Cincinnati Zoo. Their names are Rukia, Jira and Chiku. Two males, also littermates, came from the Columbus Zoo. Born on September 29, 2000, these two former program animals are named Kuzo and Kago. The makeup of the cheetahs in the Indianapolis Zoo’s collection ultimately is dictated by the Species Survival Plan®, a program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that manages the captive breeding of threatened and endangered species.
Some Facts About Cheetahs:
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 10 to 12 years
Size: 3.5 to 4.5 ft, Tail, 25.5 to 31.5 in
Weight: 77 to 143 lbs
Protection status: Vulnerable
Female cheetahs typically have a litter of three cubs and live with them for one and a half to two years. Young cubs spend their first year learning from their mother and practicing hunting techniques with playful games. Male cheetahs live alone or in small groups, often with their littermates. Cheetahs need only drink once every three to four days.
|