Cheetah
For several years now, Petrofer has been an animal sponsor of the Basel Zoo. The Basel Zoo plays an important role in the conservation of endangered species. You can find more information on our connection with the Basel Zoo Animal Sponsorship.
The largest populations of cheetahs currently live in Kenya, Botswana and Namibia, where they are found on open plains and savannahs as well as in arid regions.
Physique
Cheetahs are the fastest mammals in the world. Their flexible spinal column and long legs give them an extremely fast running style. They are the only cat species unable to fully retract their claws, which are hard and blunt. The exposed claws prevent cheetahs from slipping while sprinting and therefore help them hunt more successfully. When hunting, cheetahs can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. The bluntness of their claws makes cheetahs poor climbers.
Cheetahs only weigh about 45 kilograms and have to watch out for lions, leopards and hyenas, all of which are larger and heavier than them. All cheetahs have their own individual facial patterns with tear lines (black stripes from the inner corner of the eyes to the corner of the mouth).
Behaviour
Cheetahs tend to be solitary creatures, the females even more so than the males. Males sometimes spend a long time living in pairs or threes, especially in areas where food is in plentiful supply. Forming a group makes it easier to defend a territory and attract females. This behaviour is not seen in any other cat species. With the exception of lions, cats are all solitary creatures.
Cheetahs reproduce in all seasons. One to six cubs are born after 90 to 95 days and raised by the female alone. The cubs leave their den after eight weeks and remain with their mother until they are 18 months old.
Diet
Unlike all other large cats, cheetahs hunt during the day. They largely feed off small to medium-sized antelopes like springboks, impalas and Thomson’s gazelles. The energy-zapping chase of the hunt exhausts cheetahs so much that they pant heavily for air for several minutes after catching their prey before starting to eat.