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Cheetah
The cheetah is one of the most graceful animals on the planet; an atypical member of the Cat family, the cheetah’s name is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘variegated body’. However, because of its status as vulnerable and endangered, visitors to the Kruger National Park may not have the chance to witness this magnificent feline creature as it is very careful of showing itself out in the open.
Its physical appearance is unmistakable and distinct; short, tan fur and trademark round black spots with a white underbelly make it a beautiful creature to look at too. The cheetah prefers to live in open woodland areas as this helps them to chase down and kill their prey; they can even exist in arid areas because being predators they can live without water. The cheetah is a carnivore and mostly eats mammals that weigh less then 40kgs including gazelles, springboks, and impalas. While other bigger cats hunt at night, the cheetah prefers to hunt early in the morning or in the evening when it’s not too hot.
A cheetah is smaller in size and weight than the average leopard, but its body is more streamlined; this body proportion and shape is the likely reason for the cheetah’s greatest asset – its speed. Majestic, graceful, and fast are just a few of the adjectives that can be used to describe the breathtaking sight of the cheetah in full flight. Recent studies have confirmed that cheetahs are the fastest animals on earth with speeds recorded between 112 and 120km/h. In studies conducted on the cheetah’s social and reproduction lives, it was found that female cheetahs are fairly promiscuous and end up having many cubs fathered by different males. Gestation is about 95 days with females able to birth up to 6 cubs at a time. The cubs only open their eyes after 10 days and are fully dependent on their mothers for at least 18 months; it is this dependency that makes the cheetah population a vulnerable one. In general, 70% of cheetahs born die before they reach adulthood with as few as 5 % likely to live to have their own children. Their survival rate in the Kruger Park is higher, however.